A Florida woman has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing the father of her children in front of their kids at a daycare. The tragic incident occurred on Friday at Auntie Lili’s Daycare in Starke, located about 45 miles southwest of Jacksonville.
Mindy Osteen, 34, is accused of approaching Christopher Jones as he was picking up their two children and firing multiple shots into him with a 9 mm handgun.
According to police, Osteen told Jones, “You got to die,” before she shot him. As she fired, Osteen allegedly said, “Please, let the monster die.” Witnesses, including daycare staff and children, were present at the time of the shooting. At least six children and two daycare employees were inside the facility when the shooting took place.
The Shooting
Osteen reportedly ambushed Jones as he was placing his children into the car. Police say Osteen had been lurking nearby and hid the Arex Delta 9 mm pistol in a backpack. Security footage from the daycare allegedly shows Osteen waiting for the right moment before walking up to Jones and firing three shots as he sat in the driver’s seat of his car.
Osteen then backed up slightly and fired two more shots, with Jones heard screaming in pain.
Witnesses immediately informed law enforcement that Osteen was the shooter, and deputies arrived shortly after. When they approached Osteen, she allegedly said, “I done it in self-defense,” though it was unclear what she meant by that statement. Jones was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Osteen’s Arrest and Charges
Following the shooting, Osteen was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, cruelty toward a child, weapon possession, and larceny. The arrest report states that she was being held without bond and will face further legal proceedings.
The shocking nature of the crime has left the local community reeling, with the violent attack unfolding in front of multiple children at a daycare. The children, including Osteen and Jones’s two kids, were fortunately not physically harmed, but the emotional impact of witnessing such violence is expected to be significant.
The fatal shooting of Christopher Jones by Mindy Osteen is a devastating tragedy, especially as it occurred in front of their children at a daycare.
Osteen’s claims of self-defense have not been clarified, and as the investigation continues, more details may emerge. For now, she remains in custody as she faces serious charges related to the killing.
