ORANGE PARK, Fla. — “Everything seemed normal and peaceful and quiet. Nothing like this,” neighbor Jeff Eden said.
Crime scene tape and flashing police lights are out of the ordinary in this Orange Park neighborhood.
“Very chaotic at first. There were seven or eight units down there,” Eden said.
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Action News Jax first told you Sunday night deputies found a dead body inside a home on Plymouth Court.
We learned that David Christopher Gholson was the one killed.
The sheriff’s office said his wife, Melissa Gholson, turned herself in for the crime. She is facing second-degree not premeditated murder charges.
According to a police report, Melissa told police she shot and killed David on Saturday after several arguments.
She said she grabbed a pistol in the morning and later placed it in a drawer. She later pulled it out, pointed it at David and pulled the trigger.
When it didn’t fire, she said David ran into the garage and she followed him.
She told police she intentionally shot him multiple times in the stomach and then left him there while she watched TV and slept.
The report states Melissa ran errands the next morning. She said she went to her sister’s where she confessed to the shooting and the two went to the sheriff’s office together.
Neighbors also told us they never suspected any problems in the couple’s relationship, but they also didn’t know them that well.
“It’s so, so out of character. But you never know,” Eden said.
The police report states the two were separated.
Melissa told police she was not in fear for her life when she shot David.
She said she just wanted the arguing to “stop.”
While we were at the home, two men in a truck with a trailer arrived. We did not learn who they were or why they came.
They did take a canoe, swing set, and a riding lawn mower, and put out several belongings on the side of the road.
According to family law documents, David was married once before. He leaves two children behind.
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Action News Jax could not find any previous violent arrests for David or Melissa.
We found Melissa was arrested in 2009 in Neptune Beach for disorderly intoxication.
Neighbors also said they saw a patrol car at the home a few weeks ago. We’re looking into that call.
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