Gunman kills 3, self in Green Cove Springs shooting

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies are investigating a triple shooting Tuesday morning in Green Cove Springs that killed two women and one man.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office responded just before 10 a.m. to an abduction at a hair salon.

Shelly Hodges of Keeping it Classy said a man came in at gunpoint, took Valorie and said, "We're going to get your father."

The suspect, 40-year-old Murray Lancaster and the victim, Valorie Short, 30, then met her father, Welland "Buddy" Short in the Magnolia Point Country Club West area, where they were shot and killed, deputies said.

The suspect then went to the Rosemary Hill Landfill and shot and killed his ex-wife and mother of his children, Erica Green. The Clay County Environmental Services closed for the rest of the day Tuesday.

Sources told Action News Jax that Green was pregnant.

Lancaster drove off in a silver or gray Chevrolet pickup truck. Deputies found the truck at the Lancaster’s Green Cove Springs home. A rifle was found in the truck, deputies said.

SWAT teams investigated the Lancaster property. Officials found Lancaster dead Tuesday afternoon from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a trailer on the property, CCSO said.

Murray Lancaster

Deputies said Lancaster is the nephew of a former Clay County Sheriff.

Lancaster attempted to go to Charles E. Bennett Elementary School to say good-bye to his two children, but didn't make it, according to police. The children are safe, police said.

Georgia-Pacific Palatka saw and paper mill was temporarily placed on lockdown as a precaution. Lancaster was reportedly fired last week and made threats.

Four schools in the immediate area were also placed on lockdown as a precaution: Clay High School, Charles E. Bennett Elementary, Green Cove Springs Junior High School and Bannerman Learning Center. All district offices in Green Cove Springs were on lockdown too, according to school officials.

Dismissal procedures began at about 2 p.m. at Bannerman Learning Center and Clay High School. The lockdown was lifted for the other schools around 2:30 p.m. and students were released.

School officials said they used the Parentlink app to communicate directly with parents and guardians.

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Green Cove Springs Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to assist during the investigation.

Law Enforcement blocked State Road 16 and closed County Road 315.  It is not known when the roads will reopen to traffic.

Road blocked at Oakridge Avenue and State Road 16 as manhunt continues for a suspect in Green Cove Springs.

Action News Jax is working to learn more. Refresh the page and follow Action News Jax on Twitter @ActionNewsJax for the latest information.

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