After a police manhunt for a murder suspect early Saturday led authorities to TPC Sawgrass, home of this week’s Players Championship, tournament officials delayed opening gates to fans until 9 a.m. ET.
According to News4Jax, a double murder was committed nearby in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and police tracked the primary suspect onto TPC Sawgrass property.
Police said the suspect stole a BMW and escaped to the northeastern tip of the state where he crashed the vehicle into woods and fled on foot but was eventually captured and is now in custody.
Here’s what you need to know.
Police hunted murder suspect at TPC Sawgrass ahead of Saturday’s round
Early Saturday morning, the Players Championship’s official X account posted a message saying that fans would have to wait longer than expected to get through the gates on Saturday morning.
The release said the delay was due to “operational” considerations.
“Due to operational considerations, gates for today’s third round will now open at 9 a.m. ET. Tee times will remain as previously scheduled, and all on-course hospitality venues will open at 11 a.m. ET.”
Police statements shed more light on the delay.
According to JaxNews4, police said two people were shot and killed in a Walgreens parking lot on the corner of Palm Valley Road in Ponte Vedra on Friday night. Police responded to “multiple 911 calls” reporting the shooting around 10:30 p.m. ET.
The suspect reportedly fled the scene to nearby TPC Sawgrass, where the Players Championship is being played this week
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick told News4Jax the “investigators identified a suspect early in the investigation as Christian Barrios, 32, and canine units tracked him onto PGA Tour property at TPC Sawgrass.”
Authorities also told News4Jax that the suspect “made contact with PGA staff, picked up a radio, and may have touched other items before leaving that area.”
Following the delay, gates officially opened to fans at 9 a.m. ET Saturday. Later Saturday morning, police said that the suspect had been arrested at 8 a.m. ET in Nassau County.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
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