PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A man accused of killing two people outside a Ponte Vedra Beach Walgreens appeared in court on Friday for a felony hearing.
Barrios’ attorney filed a motion, asking a judge to block the public release of any statements his client provided to law enforcement.
The judge denied the motion, saying it was too broad.
The attorney said he filed the motion as a precaution after seeing media reports about Barrios’ unredacted arrest warrant, which stated confessions were made by the suspect to investigators.
Barrios faces two charges of first-degree murder in connection with the killings of Melissia Wood and Jason Chatham outside a Walgreens in Ponte Vedra Beach in March.
According to his arrest warrant, Barrios’ mother drove him to the site of the shooting and told deputies that she heard the moment that gunshots rang off.
Investigators say he called his mother and asked for a ride to the location where he believed his girlfriend, Melissa Wood, and her alleged boyfriend, Jason 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.
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The arrest warrant states that a few seconds later, the mother told deputies that she heard multiple gunshots coming from the direction of Melissa’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 to confront his girlfriend and a man he believed she was in a relationship with.
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.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick’s full press conference on the incident can be watched below.
Barrios is currently being held without bond.