ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE: The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) has released body cam footage from the car chase and arrest of a man considered a person of interest in connection with a deadly shooting at Cynthia Chestnut Park.
The footage was posted on the ACSO Facebook page, beginning with a deputy conducting a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver to cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle stolen from the shooting scene. You can see the vehicle spins out coming dangerously close to innocent drivers who’ve pulled over in response to the flashing lights and sirens.
It then cuts to officers along with a K9 unit instructing the driver to get out of the vehicle. The man is seen exiting the vehicle with his hands up, followed by another clip of deputies handcuffing the suspect. Deputies later identified the driver as 28-year-old Javon Barclay as the suspect. A check of the MCSO jail log on Monday, Sept. 25, indicates Barclay has not been charged with anything directly related to the shooting.
ORIGINAL: Deputies arrested a man who was found driving the car of the victim in the Cynthia Chestnut Park shooting that occurred on Sunday, Sept. 17.
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies responded to the parking lot after receiving a report from a citizen that they heard gunshots. When they arrived, they discovered a male victim lying down and unable to move. The victim identified as 44-year-old Johnny Walker was pronounced dead at the UF Health Trauma Center, said ACSO in a Facebook post.
READ MORE: Alachua County deputies investigate deadly shooting at Cynthia Chestnut Park
According to ACSO detectives, a gold BMW that was driven by the victim was missing from the scene.
On Sept. 18., the sheriff’s office was notified by the Ocala Police Department that the same vehicle was seen traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 441.
Alachua and Marion County deputies responded to U.S. Hwy 441 in attempts to find the vehicle. Around 10:15 a.m., the vehicle was seen driving south at the 13300 block of U.S. Hwy 441. Deputies say they tried to stop the vehicle and the driver refused to stop, leading them on a pursuit.
Deputies were able to stop the vehicle and take the driver who they later identified as 28-year-old Javon Barclay into custody. The suspect was transported to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries before being taken to the Alachua County Jail. He was charged with fleeing law enforcement and driving with a suspended license.
The shooting is still under investigation and deputies have not charged Barclay with murder but consider him a person of interest.
They are asking you or anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact them at 352-955-1818. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 372-STOP.