PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A man lovingly nicknamed “Uncle Dirt” has been identified as one of two victims in a deadly double shooting a week ago outside a Walgreens in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Jason Chatham’s niece, Aliya Jade, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook this week after the loss of her uncle, who deputies say was fatally shot, along with Melissa Wood, by Wood’s boyfriend, 32-year-old Christian Barrios.
Barrios is facing two counts of first-degree murder, among other charges.
Jade’s post recalled many of her favorite memories with “Uncle Dirt,” from swimming at the Jetties, fishing and riding 4-wheelers to beach bonfires, trips to Adventure Landing and working on cars.
RELATED: ‘Nothing can bring her back’: Daughter of Ponte Vedra double shooting victim urges harsh punishment for accused killer | Mother of man accused of killing 2 outside Ponte Vedra Walgreens drove him to site of shooting, unredacted report shows
“I wish we could share another late night adventure walking the streets of Jax Beach with no clue in the world where we are going or what we are doing,” wrote Jade, who shared photos of Chatham with News4JAX.
She said “Uncle Dirt” made being a kid memorable.
“You were the best uncle a girl could ever ask for. You taught me lessons I’ll never forget,” Jade wrote. “Because of you, I will push every day to be better. I know my worth.”
Jade said Chatham was “the life of the party” and lived every day to the fullest.
“I love you forever, and I hope you’re dancing in the sky having the best family reunion there is,” Jade wrote. “I will make sure your light never goes dull here on earth while you’re giving heaven the best party ever. One that I wish I had a ticket to.”
According to an unredacted arrest warrant for Barrios, obtained Thursday by News4JAX, Barrios called his mother and asked for a ride to a Walgreens off Palm Valley Road, where he believed Wood and her alleged boyfriend, Chatham, could be found.
The mother told St. Johns County deputies that Barrios rode in the back of her car and “frantically jumped out” upon seeing his girlfriend’s vehicle.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man accused in Ponte Vedra Beach double murder shooting has been arrested more than 20 times | ‘We were appalled’: St. Johns County residents shocked after 2 people were fatally shot near The Players | ‘Had just become a grandma’: GoFundMe campaign identifies woman killed in double shooting Friday in Ponte Vedra Beach
The arrest warrant states that the mother told deputies that a few seconds later, she heard multiple gunshots coming from the direction of Wood’s car, which prompted her to call 911 and meet with detectives.
During their investigation, deputies said they found an empty handgun holster in the back of the mother’s vehicle. The mother told deputies that the holster did not belong to her.
Previous reports from SJSO, which were redacted, stated that Barrios went to the Walgreens along A1A on Friday night to confront Wood and Chatham.
Following the incident, Barrios contacted a witness who was his friend, while that person was speaking with law enforcement, the report said.
The arrest documents go on to say that Barrios appeared to be concerned with the well-being of the victims; however, he did not make any admissions.
Barrios also reportedly told the witness that if he met with law enforcement, “they would likely kill him, and he did not want to go back to prison.”
The warrant further detailed how Barrios allegedly stole a BMW and attempted to evade law enforcement before being caught in Nassau County.
Barrios is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, burglary of an occupied dwelling, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, shooting into a conveyance, and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
He is currently being held without bond.