Deputies kill suspect after three die in murders in Manatee County

A man who killed his mother and two other women in a shooting spree across Manatee County was shot and killed by deputies in Hamilton County Tuesday.

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said the man, identified as 28-year-old Javontee Brice, was shot by deputies as he was apparently heading to Georgia to commit another murder.

Wells, speaking at a Tuesday morning news conference, said sometime before 9 p.m. Monday, Brice drove to the Palmetto Trace Apartments in Palmetto where he found his sister and an ex-girlfriend, the mother of at least one of Brice's 12 children.

“When he walked into the apartment, he looked at the ex-girlfriend and said ‘I have to kill you,’” Wells said.

Somehow, the sheriff said, the sister convinced Brice not to shoot. 

“I don't know how she was able to talk him down," Wells said. "She seems to be the only one at this point who was able to do that.” 

At about 9:15 p.m., Manatee deputies responded to a shooting at the Motel 6, at 660 67th Street Circle East, Bradenton. 

Brice’s 48-year-old mother, Titimysha Scott, her boyfriend and two juveniles were in the room, Wells said. Witnesses say Brice told Scott “I’m sorry,” and shot her three times with a revolver. 

Witnesses told deputies that Brice then fled the area, possibly headed to Georgia.

About 30 minutes later, deputies were dispatched to another shooting in the 900 block of 26th Street Court East, in Palmetto, where Brice’s 29-year-old cousin, Sacouya Starquez Jonquilla Brice, was shot while sitting in her SUV as she was leaving the residence. 

Palmetto Police officers responded and attempted lifesaving measures, but the woman died about an hour later. Witnesses at the scene identified Brice as the shooter.

Shortly after 10 p.m., Bradenton Police responded to a third shooting, in the 4800 block of 55th Street West in Bradenton. 

Brice’s ex-girlfriend and her adult female partner were inside the residence. Brice shot and killed the former girlfriend’s partner, identified as 31-year-old Charel Carter, before fleeing, Wells said. 

The Sheriff’s Office issued a statewide alert for Brice. At about 1 a.m., deputies in Hamilton County who were monitoring traffic on I-75 identified Brice’s car by his license plate, Hamilton County Sheriff J. Harrell Reid said.

Brice turned off the interstate at the Live Oak/Jasper exit, about 30 miles south of the Georgia state line, Reid said. Deputies followed him into a closed gas station where Brice parked near a gas pump.

As deputies ordered Brice out of his car shortly after 1 a.m., Brice pulled his weapon and shot at deputies, who returned fire, killing him, Reid said.

A woman passenger in Brice’s car was not injured. Reid declined to identify her, saying no charges have been filed against her. Wells said they believe she was with Brice in Manatee County when the shootings occurred.

Wells said family members told deputies they believe Brice was traveling to Georgia with the intent to kill another former girlfriend. 

“We don’t know a motive,” Wells said. “We may never know. It's a very fluid and active investigation.” 

Wells said Brice did have a prior history with law enforcement, warrants for burglary and domestic violence. 

“We’re trying to get all the answers to questions we all have,” Wells said.