Ex-Con Shoots and Kills 2 People Outside TPC Sawgrass, Flees Through Golf Course During Players Championship

A double homicide in a parking lot less than a mile from TPC Sawgrass sent the Players Championship into a brief security delay Saturday morning — and put a convicted felon with 27 prior arrests back behind bars.

Christian Barrios, 32, shot and killed two people he knew in the parking lot of a Walgreens in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday in what St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick described as a domestic violence situation. Barrios then fled on foot directly onto PGA Tour property, with canine units in pursuit.

What Happened at TPC Sawgrass?

What followed was a surreal scene. Barrios moved through the tournament grounds in the early morning hours, making contact with grounds crew and security personnel along the way. At one point he picked up a PGA Tour radio before dropping it and continuing to run. He eventually stole a black BMW, led Nassau County officers on a chase, crashed into the woods, and fled on foot again before finally being arrested without incident Saturday around 8 a.m. — his 32nd birthday.

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The Players is DELAYED! #pgatour #golf #golftiktok #golftok #tpcsawgrass

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The PGA Tour cited "operational considerations" in delaying the opening of gates until 9 a.m. The first tee shot of the third round went off on schedule at 8:15 a.m., with hospitality areas opening at 11 a.m.

Sheriff Hardwick was blunt about his frustration with Barrios's record. "This thug's criminal history is embarrassing," he said at a press conference. "He is out of prison again on probation, committing another violent felony. Here we are dumping all these resources and families are gonna mourn two people that were shot and killed in a parking lot of a Walgreens."