CLAY COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 Clay County Sheriff\u2019s Office announced the arrest of Darrius Elighah Winard Kirkland, 32, in connection with Friday evening\u2019s shooting in the Oakleaf neighborhood during a child custody exchange.<\/p>\n
Kirkland has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and child abuse, police said in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n
On Friday, about 5 p.m., Kirkland accompanied his girlfriend to a regularly scheduled child custody exchange with her estranged husband. <\/p>\n
Despite being a convicted felon and not being able to legally own firearms, Kirkland armed himself with an AR style rifle and a semiautomatic pistol on the way to the exchange.<\/p>\n
Shortly after the arrival of the father in his vehicle, the young child of Kirkland\u2019s girlfriend exited the vehicle they were riding in and began walking to her father\u2019s vehicle. Kirkland also exited the vehicle with the rifle and pointed it at the father\u2019s vehicle as he was getting out. <\/p>\n
Kirkland began firing the rifle numerous times at the father, who returned fire with his own pistol before retreating into neighboring yards. The father\u2019s vehicle was struck by bullets numerous times while another young child was inside, police said in the post.<\/p>\n
The mother took cover on the ground during the exchange of gunfire but was able to retrieve both children and get them to safety when the shooting stopped. The mother and children were unharmed during the incident, and no one was struck by gunfire during the exchange. Several houses in the area were hit by stray bullets, but no one was injured.<\/p>\n
The father returned to the scene and surrendered to responding deputies. Kirkland fled the scene in his girlfriend\u2019s vehicle but crashed into a tree and attempted to hide in the yard of a neighboring residence. The vehicle and tree caught fire after the crash and an unoccupied vehicle parked near the crash also caught fire.<\/p>\n
Clay County Fire Rescue responded and extinguished both fires, but both vehicles had been fully engulfed before the fires could be extinguished. A CCSO K9 officer apprehended Kirkland with assistance from community members.<\/p>\n
Kirkland was interviewed by detectives and received medical treatment for injuries sustained during the incident before being arrested. <\/p>\n
The mother and father were cooperative and were also interviewed by detectives. A large section of Piedmont Manor Dr was shut down for several hours while detectives obtained search warrants to recover evidence from multiple scenes.<\/p>\n
Though an arrest has been made, the investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact police at 904-264-6512 and ask to speak with Detective Sean Holmes. People can also submit a tip through the SaferWatch app, or by calling First Coast Crime Stoppers by dialing **TIPS. <\/p>\n
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