Law enforcement officials say a man shot and killed his soon-to-be ex-wife and another woman before taking his own life Tuesday evening, following a multi-county manhunt and standoff along Interstate 75.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Jason Holton, who authorities say fatally shot Candace Pons Joseph, his soon-to-be ex-wife, and a second adult female. The two women were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds near Southwest County Road 241 in the Providence area around 4:30 p.m., deputies said.
According to neighbors, Holton and Joseph had been experiencing ongoing marital difficulties. The couple shared three children.
After the shootings, investigators said Holton fled the scene in a black Ford F-150. Deputies were able to make contact with him by phone as he left the area, prompting the issuance of a statewide alert. Multiple agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol, joined the search.
Authorities later located the vehicle traveling southbound on I-75 in Alachua County, near Paynes Prairie. Law enforcement used a PIT maneuver to stop the truck in an attempt to take Holton into custody.
When officers approached the vehicle, Holton was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff’s office said.
Earlier in the incident, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office had shut down I-75 South near Paynes Prairie as deputies worked to apprehend what they described as an “armed” and “dangerous” suspect. Live traffic feeds from the area were later removed by FL 511 as the situation unfolded.
The multi-agency investigation remains ongoing. Officials said additional details, including confirmation of the second victim’s identity, will be released as they become available.
“Prayers for all the victims and their families,” the Union County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
