Mother of 3 killed, 2 others hurt in New Year’s Eve shooting in Clay County

2 suspects in custody after pursuit ends in Bradford County

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. – Three people were shot on New Year’s Eve in a rural area off County Road 21 north of Keystone Heights. Clay County deputies said one of those victims died at the scene. Two other victims were hospitalized.

Friends told News4Jax on Wednesday that one of the victims was Liza Dukes, 29. Shayne Wooten, who friends said was also shot, survived. Wooten’s father Jay was also shot and survived, friends said.

Family and friends are heartbroken. They said Dukes leaves behind three young children.

News4Jax spoke with a loved one of Dukes who said they want justice.

“Open, caring, very loving," friend Zandra Hall said when asked to describe Dukes. "If she saw a stranger begging for change, she would give them the last dollar she had in her pocket. She was a very strong believer in God.”

The shooting happened around 9 p.m. on Lori Loop Road, just off County Road 315C, in front of the mobile home where Dukes lived.

New4Jax spoke with a neighbor who asked to not be identified.

“As I was walking I heard guns go off and then I heard them holler out call 911 I’ve been shot,” the woman said Wednesday. “Then Shayne started driving toward me because I was the only one with the phone.”

Two suspects were detained in connection with the triple shooting after a police chase that ended in a crash on State Road 100 near SE 81st Street, about 15 miles away in Bradford County. It’s not clear yet how much time passed between the shooting and the police chase, but Bradford County deputies assisted in taking the two into custody.

Clay County deputies said the two in custody were Victoria Scifo, 20, and Taylor Ryan Hill, 22. Scifo is charged with fleeing police and as an accessory after the fact in a murder. She was driving the vehicle when the two were caught.

Scifo was recently released from prison after serving 15 months for heroin possession, car theft and fleeing police, out of Citrus County.

Hill was convicted of burglary at age 14, and sentenced to 35 years. That sentence was later reduced to seven years and he was released in September. He was on probation, and there was a warrant out for his arrest for violating that probation.

Hill is now charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon and tampering with a firearm serial number.

Family said they have no idea who the suspects are.

“I never would have thought anything like this would have happened to her,” Hall said.

Hall said she will never forget the memories she shared with Dukes.

“I’m always going to think about her and I’m always going to look out for her babies," Hall said.


About the Authors:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.

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