Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Carey Fernard Showers Jr., 18, has been charged as an adult with second-degree homicide, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of Joshua Douglass at Treehouse Village Apartments on September 10.
Christian Eugene Howard, 18, was arrested earlier in the investigation. He is accused of shooting Douglass, attempting to rob him and shooting Showers; Howard’s complete charges are listed at the end of this article.
Gainesville Police Department officers were called to Treehouse Village Apartments, at 125 SE 16th Avenue, at approximately 8:18 p.m. on September 10 after receiving a report of a shooting. Officers found Douglass lying on the ground, where he had died from multiple gunshot wounds. No suspects were at the scene, but investigators recovered “numerous” shell casings. A pickup truck parked near the pool also had “numerous” bullet holes.
What the video shows
According to investigators, surveillance footage shows Douglass and a companion driving a pickup truck into the apartment complex and parking near the pool. Douglass got out, and Showers walked over to him. The two men spoke for several minutes.
As Douglass and Showers talked, Howard reportedly approached on foot from the side of the pool. He stayed in the shadows while carrying a “rifle/ARP style” firearm. Howard then positioned himself behind a tree roughly 20 feet from the two men, taking what investigators described as “an obvious ambush position.”
Shortly afterward, Showers pulled a pistol from his waistband and moved toward Douglass in what appeared to be an attempt to rob him. Douglass pushed him away, causing Showers to drop the firearm and lose his slides.
Howard then fired “numerous” rounds at Douglass and his companion. Douglass was struck multiple times, while Showers was shot in the foot. Douglass ran out of view of the camera, and his companion exited the truck and fled a short distance. Showers took cover beneath a nearby vehicle. Howard ran north, leaving his slides behind.
Evidence found at the scene
Investigators noted that Showers was wearing a distinctive jacket or hoodie with reflective trim across the chest, back and pockets. Howard was reportedly dressed in black-and-white Nike slides, white ankle socks, bright orange shorts bearing a Nike “swoosh” and a dark jacket or hoodie.
Detectives reportedly recovered two pairs of Nike slides from the scene—one from the area where Howard had been and another from the location where Showers had been. Beneath the vehicle where Showers hid, officers found a yellow belt keychain with a Bic lighter and a key. Detectives later matched the item to a yellow belt keychain visible in a photo on Showers’ Instagram account.
Blood was also reportedly found beneath the vehicle. Investigators recovered a Glock-style P80 “ghost gun” equipped with a gun light attachment, an extended magazine and a black grip wrap. Detectives later matched the weapon to photographs posted on Showers’ Instagram account.
Douglass’ companion told investigators that he and Douglass had gone to Treehouse Village to sell a pistol to Showers. He said Douglass had arranged the meeting through Instagram, and Showers sent a location showing the apartment complex’s pool. After the two men parked, Showers approached on foot to negotiate the transaction.
The companion said Douglass became upset with Showers after the Cash App payment failed and believed Showers was “playing” him. He reported that Showers lunged at Douglass and tried to grab either Douglass or the pistol being offered for sale. At the same time, he heard gunfire from the passenger side of the truck. The witness described the shooter as wearing orange shorts.
Detectives already knew about Showers’ Instagram account and determined that the account referenced by Douglass’ companion belonged to Showers. They prepared a photo lineup, and the companion reportedly identified Showers as the person who had met with Douglass.
A second witness told officers that they heard gunshots and then saw someone limping northbound. The person was reportedly saying, “Dear God, help me.”
While officers remained at the apartment complex, Showers’ mother reportedly arrived and said she believed her son might have been involved and could have been shot, but she did not know where he was. Officers later went to Showers’ father’s home and reviewed surveillance footage showing Showers leaving earlier that evening. He was wearing a jacket or hoodie with distinctive trim around the pocket, matching the clothing seen in the Treehouse Village surveillance video.
Locating Showers
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Labour Urged to Ignore ‘Eco-Zealots’ and Back New Drilling
On September 11, the Gainesville Police Department released a photo of Showers and asked the public to provide information about his whereabouts. Investigators learned that he was inside an apartment at Sweetwater on 16th Avenue, directly east of Treehouse Village. Officers conducted surveillance at the apartment, and Showers soon emerged while visibly limping. At the time of his arrest, he reportedly had a plastic bag containing blood-soaked clothing and bandages. He was taken to a hospital, where officers confirmed that he had suffered a gunshot wound to his foot.
Additional video from Treehouse Village
Video surveillance at Treehouse Village also reportedly shows Howard entering the complex on foot at 6:42 p.m. on September 10, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, Nike slides, white ankle socks, and bright orange shorts with a Nike “swoosh” on the side.
Detectives reviewed recent contacts with Howard and found body-worn camera evidence that he was wearing the same bright orange shorts when he spoke with an officer in May about an issue with his ankle monitor.
Social media posting
Detectives found an Instagram post that appeared to name Howard as the shooter in the incident.
Search warrant
On September 16, a search warrant was executed at Howard’s residence, and officers reportedly found a pistol in his closet with a grip wrap that was similar to the one on the “ghost gun” found at the scene; one round of .223 caliber rifle ammunition; a pair of white ankle socks that were dirty on the bottom; and a black jacket/hoodie similar to the one worn by the shooter in the video from the shooting incident.
Howard was later found by the Florida Highway Patrol during a traffic stop and was taken into custody.
Howard’s charges
Howard was initially charged with homicide while engaged in robbery, attempted armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by an adjudicated delinquent. He has multiple juvenile felony convictions between 2023 and 2025 and cannot legally possess a firearm until he is 24. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial. On September 18, Judge Denise Ferrero granted the motion and ordered him held without bail until trial.
On October 14, Howard was formally charged with attempted armed robbery (a 10-20-Life offense), second-degree homicide (a 10-20-Life offense) for the shooting of Douglass, attempted felony murder (a 10-20-Life offense) for the shooting of Showers, and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by an adjudicated delinquent under the age of 24 (one for the .300 Blackout firearm he allegedly carried at Treehouse Village, and one for the pistol and ammunition reportedly found at his apartment).
Showers’ charges
Showers has been formally charged with attempted armed robbery, second-degree homicide, and possession of a firearm or ammunition by an adjudicated delinquent under the age of 24. According to a court document, Showers’ juvenile history includes robbery by sudden snatching, battery, and felony battery as a repeat offender. He turned 18 on September 12, two days after the Treehouse Village incident.
In the order transferring the case to the adult justice system, Judge Denise Ferrero ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
