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On May 28, 2024, the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office announced that four people were injured and one was killed after two separate shootings at Ginnie Springs over Memorial Day weekend.
Authorities arrested Fisher Watts, 18, from St. Marys, Georgia, on first-degree murder charges in the death of Koty Stewart, 34, from Jacksonville. The suspect’s brother, Dallas Watts, was also arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Around 12:39 a.m. on Saturday, the police responded to Ginnie Springs near Beaver Landing in reference to a person shot. First responders found Koty Stewart on the ground with gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts, Stewart was pronounced dead at the scene.
Full Name | Koty Stewart |
---|---|
Age | 34 years |
Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
Marital Status | Married |
Children | Two |
Profession | Dedicated father and husband |
Date of Death | May 27, 2024 |
Cause of Death | Gunshot wounds |
Reference | – |
According to family members, Koty Stewart was killed while camping with his wife at Ginnie Springs on Friday night. The investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a parking space at the campsite.
The police reported that two opposing parties were involved in two physical altercations hours before the shooting. Witnesses believed that the dispute had been resolved before the shooting occurred.
Fisher Watts fled the scene and was arrested Sunday afternoon in Georgia. He is currently in custody at the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, awaiting extradition to Gilchrist County. Dallas Watts was arrested at Ginnie Springs and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting arrest without violence.
Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz mentioned that Ginnie Springs had more than 20,000 people at the campsite when the police responded. “It was more like a rave party than a campground,” Schultz said.
Less than 12 hours after the first deadly shooting, law enforcement responded to another shooting at Ginnie Springs. Agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) responded around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday after a large fight broke out and a suspect shot into the crowd, injuring three bystanders who were not involved in the dispute. Two people were treated and released with minor injuries, but a third victim remains in the hospital with serious injuries.
The FDLE is leading the investigation into the second shooting. “We have developed suspects in this case and we are continuing to work on our investigation, which is still ongoing,” said Will Porter, resident agent in charge of the FDLE’s Gainesville field office.
Multiple agencies responded to assist in both shooting investigations, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the State Attorney’s Office for the 8th Judicial Circuit, among others.
Devon Dulaney, who arrived at Ginnie Springs on Saturday, said he was excited to spend the next two days at one of his favorite places but was terrified to see police cars and a helicopter arrive that night. “It was extremely concerning. We couldn’t sleep that night. Everyone felt in danger,” Dulaney said.
Gilchrist County Undersheriff Robert Willis noted that the agency has seen an escalation of issues at Ginnie Springs in recent years due to large crowds and heavy alcohol use. “The density of that location and the excess of intoxicants is a recipe for disaster,” Willis said.
Dulaney said he saw the crowds firsthand and even witnessed several fights throughout the day. He is disappointed that Ginnie Springs has not issued a statement following the violent weekend and hopes the owners will take measures to ensure that nothing like this happens again. “In a place where we all need to find our reprieve from daily life, it’s a disappointment. And I really hope these things are handled so we feel safe to return,” Dulaney said.
There were also questions about why the site was not shut down the night of the first shooting. The sheriff’s office said they suggested it be shut down to park owners. A “soft closure” was enacted at Ginnie Springs on Saturday after the deadly shooting, and people still had access to the site until a “hard closure” on Sunday, following the second shooting, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are asking anyone who was at Ginnie Springs at the time of the shootings or may have additional information to contact them.
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