Ex-con shoots and kills 2 people outside Players Championship, delaying course’s opening to public

An ex-con out on parole fatally shot two people near Florida’s TPC Sawgrass — and made a desperate, Hollywood-style  escape through the golf course, prompting The Players Championship to delay opening the gates to the public Saturday, authorities said. 

Christian Barrios, 32, shot and killed two people in a Walgreens parking lot in Ponte Vedra at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday in what was described as a domestic violence situation, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. 

Barrios fled the drug store lot, about a mile away from the site of the annual golf tournament, and entered the PGA tour property, with canine units in hot pursuit, according to St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick.

At one point, Barrios, who celebrated his 32nd on Saturday, picked up a PGA Tour radio and later dropped it while being chased through the course grounds, cops said.

“Christian had multiple contacts with people who were inside the tour area – working on grounds [and] some security guards there,” Hardwick said without offering more specifics during a Saturday press conference.

He then stole a black BMW from a Ponte Vedra Beach residence, and with neighboring Nassau County cops on his tail, crashed into the woods and ran, cops said. 

Police tracked him down in the woods and arrested him without incident Saturday around 8 a.m., cops said.

The PGA cited “operational considerations” for not opening the gates until 9 a.m. The first round began on schedule, with Seamus Power taking his first swing at 8:15 a.m. Hospitality areas were delayed opening until 11 a.m.

“We have worked closely with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and appreciate the coordination and partnership from Sheriff Rob Hardwick and his team,” the tour said in a statement. 

SWAT teams, helicopters and drones were deployed during the extensive overnight search. Locals were warned to stay indoors until the threat was cleared. 

One Ponte Vedra woman recounted on Facebook how she heard helicopters buzzing overheard after driving past the Walgreens – which was swarmed with officers.

“I still hear the helicopters hunting him so if you’re in the area please stay inside and lock your doors,” Deborah Kinsey wrote on Friday night. 

“It happened an hour or so ago as I was on my way home from work. I saw the police but didn’t know at that time what was happening.”

Another resident, Linda Muldoon, said at the time there were “at least 10 police cars” and Walgreens was “taped off with crime tape.” 

“We’re all pretty rattled,” Muldoon told The Post. “It’s usually a quiet town.”

Barrios, a repeat offender with at least 27 arrests, knew his victims and shot them multiple times,  Hardwick said.

The events leading up to the deadly shooting remain unclear, but investigators believe Barrios showed up to the Walgreens with the sole intention of “confront[ing] the victims,” according to police. 

Cops received several tips about the suspect on Friday night, including from Barrios’ own mother. 

“This thug’s criminal history is embarrassing,” the sheriff said. 

“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 Walgreens over domestic violence situation.”

Barrios was charged with two counts of first degree murder, Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Shooting into a conveyance and Grand Theft Auto, according to the St Johns Sheriff’s Office. 

He is being held in county jail without bond. 

The PGA Tour referred The Post to the St. Johns Sheriff’s Office when asked for comment. 

Additional reporting by Tina Moore/With Post Wires