In a tragic turn of events fueled by jealousy, a Florida man finds himself incarcerated while two individuals have lost their lives, according to local law enforcement and family members.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has charged 32-year-old Christian Barrios with two counts of first-degree murder. Additionally, he faces charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling, illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, shooting into a vehicle, and grand theft auto.

The victims, Melissa Wood, 46, and Jason Chatham, 42, both residents of Atlantic Beach, a small city near Jacksonville, tragically lost their lives in the incident.

The violent episode unfolded on the evening of March 13, at a Walgreens located on the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway in Ponte Vedra Beach, a suburb of Jacksonville.

Law enforcement officials responded around 10:30 p.m. after receiving multiple emergency calls reporting gunshots at the pharmacy situated at the intersection of Palm Valley Road, stated St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick.

The victims were promptly taken to nearby hospitals but, unfortunately, succumbed to their injuries, Sheriff Hardwick confirmed during a press briefing, as reported by the local TV station WJXT.

The defendant was quickly identified and tracked by K-9 units onto a golf course in the area which is owned by the PGA Tour.

Barrios was arrested the next day in Nassau County after stealing a BMW, crashing the car, and fleeing from a local deputy on foot into the woods, according to the sheriff’s office, WJXT reported.

The sheriff described the defendant as a known criminal.

“He is out of prison again on probation, committing another violent felony,” Hardwick said. “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 a domestic violence situation.”

The shooting is believed to be the result of romantic envy. Investigators believe Barrios targeted Wood over perceived infidelity.

The alleged assailant got a ride from his mother, asking her to take him to the location where he believed his girlfriend would be found with another man, according to an arrest warrant obtained by WJXT.

The defendant’s mother told deputies that her son rode in the back of her car and “frantically jumped out” when he saw Wood’s car, according to the charging document. Then, the mother recalled hearing a flurry of gunfire, so she called 911.

The victim’s family said any relationship between the alleged killer and Wood was over and done with by the time of the shooting.

“[M]y amazing and one and only sister, Melissa, was gunned down and shot to death by an insecure, jealous ex-boyfriend,” the victim’s brother, Jeremy Hackward, wrote on a GoFundMe.

The online fundraiser is soliciting donations for funeral arrangements, the deceased woman’s outstanding bills, and other unexpected “financial obligations” arising from the fatal violence.

Wood was remembered fondly by her brother.

“She left behind two kids, had just become a grandma barely a year ago, and leaves our mother and me grieving her loss,” the GoFundMe continues. “Melissa was such an amazing, outgoing, generous, and compassionate person. She never judged anyone and would help a stranger even if she wasn’t in a place to do so herself. She’d do just about anything to help you out—that’s the kind of person she was.”

Wood’s daughter disputed the notion her mother had been unfaithful in comments to Jacksonville-based radio station WOKV.

Rather, she said, she believed her mother was trying to help Barrios with something, while acknowledging she did not know the full extent of the relationship between the two.

“She had a lot of love to give,” the slain woman’s daughter said. “And she always knew what to do and what to say, even when she didn’t know. And she had two beautiful kids, and she did a really good job raising us. And the one thing I want to carry out is, I just had a baby, he just turned one, and I would love to raise him the way my mom raised me.”

Chatham was lovingly remembered by his niece, Aliya Jade, in a social media post, WJXT reported.

“I wish we could share another late night adventure walking the streets of Jax Beach with no clue in the world where we are going or what we are doing,” Jade wrote. “I love you forever, and I hope you’re dancing in the sky having the best family reunion there is. I will make sure your light never goes dull here on earth while you’re giving heaven the best party ever. One that I wish I had a ticket to.”