A devastating incident unfolded Thursday evening in Hilliard, Florida, when 34-year-old Christopher Bobby Rowell fatally shot three women inside a residence on West 12th Avenue before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
During a somber press conference on Friday morning, Sheriff Bill Leeper described the event as “tragic,” “heartbreaking,” and “totally unnecessary.” The shooting occurred around 8 p.m., prompting a swift response from authorities after a 5-year-old girl, who witnessed the horrific event, escaped to a neighbor’s house and reported that Rowell had killed people inside the home.
Deputies arrived at the scene and, receiving no response from inside, entered through an unlocked front door. Inside, they discovered a gruesome scene: one woman was found lying in a pool of blood between the living room and dining room. As they conducted a protective sweep, deputies found Rowell in the living room, critically injured with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and an SKS-style 7.62-caliber rifle beside him. Continuing their search, they located a second woman in a hallway bathroom, with blood and severe injuries indicating she had been shot, and a third woman shot dead in a bedroom.
All three women were pronounced deceased at the scene. Sheriff Leeper confirmed that the victims were related to Rowell, though their exact relationships and identities have not been released pending notification of next of kin. Sources have indicated that one of the victims was Marissa Rowell, Christopher Rowell’s wife.
Rowell, who was found with a faint pulse, was airlifted to UF Health in Jacksonville. As of Friday morning, he was reported to be clinically deceased, with medical personnel keeping him on life support pending organ harvesting.
The 5-year-old girl, who miraculously escaped physical harm, played a critical role in alerting authorities. According to Sheriff Leeper, she witnessed the shooting of the first woman in the living room. One of the victims attempted to protect the child by bringing her into the bathroom, where that woman was then shot in front of the girl. Covered in blood, the child fled to a neighbor’s home, who promptly called 911. Sheriff Leeper praised the girl’s bravery, calling her “a very strong little girl” who is now safe with relatives but deeply traumatized by the ordeal. “She’s been through something no child should ever have to witness,” Leeper said. “She’s going to need a lot of love and support.”
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office noted that there were no prior domestic-related calls to the residence, and Rowell had no documented history of mental illness or prior arrests. However, neighbors reported that Rowell had exhibited unusual behavior in the past, including an unverified claim that he pointed a gun at a neighborhood child on July 4. Authorities also found additional loaded weapons and magazines in the home.
The investigation remains ongoing as the Sheriff’s Office works to uncover the circumstances leading to this tragedy. Sheriff Leeper emphasized the need for continued support for the surviving child, stating, “We just pray for her. She’s going to need a lot of help in the coming years.”
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
