A heartbreaking incident took place in Hilliard, Florida, where a 5-year-old girl managed to escape from a home where three women were shot and killed, and the suspected gunman later shot himself. The child’s quick action led the police to the crime scene, which a Florida sheriff described as one of the most emotional and tragic cases he’s seen.
What Happened in Hilliard?
At around 8 p.m. on Thursday, police in Nassau County received a 911 call about a possible shooting at a home on West 12th Avenue. When officers arrived, no one answered the door, but it was unlocked, so they entered the home.
Inside, they found a gruesome scene:
- A woman was lying in blood near the living and dining room area
- A man was found on the floor nearby with a rifle next to him
- Another woman was in the bathroom, where the walls and floor were covered in blood
- A third woman was found in a bedroom, also lying in a pool of blood
The man, later identified as 34-year-old Christopher Bobby Rowell, was still alive but barely. He had a slight pulse and was rushed by air to a hospital in Jacksonville. Authorities say Rowell had used a SKS-style assault rifle and shot himself in the head after killing the three women.
The Brave Escape of a 5-Year-Old Girl
The only known survivor inside the house was a 5-year-old girl, who escaped and ran to a neighbor’s home, banging on the door and asking for help. She told the neighbor that “the man had killed others inside” the house.
According to Sheriff Bill Leeper, the child said she had heard a gunshot while she was in the back of the house. When she came down the hallway, she saw one woman lying on the ground. Another woman pulled her into the bathroom to protect her. Sadly, that woman was then shot, and the child got blood splattered on her during the attack.
Thankfully, the girl was not physically harmed, though she was clearly traumatized by what she had seen.
Sheriff’s Statement on the Incident
Sheriff Leeper called it a “domestic incident”, though he didn’t give specific details while the investigation is ongoing. He added that everyone in the house was related, and the three women were all adults.
Rowell was described as “clinically deceased” as of Friday, and his organs were being prepared for donation. The victims’ names have not yet been made public.
“If there’s one positive, it’s that the child was not injured,” Sheriff Leeper said. “She’s very strong and brave.”
Shock in the Local Community
One neighbor said she was stunned to find out that a bullet had struck her house. Thankfully, it didn’t come inside. Residents of Hilliard, a quiet town about 30 miles north of Jacksonville, were shocked, saying they never expected something so violent to happen in their neighbourhood.
