Authorities say a domestic-related shooting in Union County led to a highway shutdown near Paynes Prairie after a chase and forced stop.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Two women were shot and killed Tuesday afternoon in Union County, and a suspect who fled in a pickup was later found dead after a law enforcement stop on Interstate 75 near Paynes Prairie. Multiple agencies shut the roadway during the standoff and reopened the lanes later that evening.
Officials said the case began around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Providence area of Union County, where deputies found two women with fatal gunshot wounds near Southwest County Road 241. The suspect left in a black Ford F-150 and was tracked south into Alachua County. The investigation now involves the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Authorities characterized the shootings as domestic-related and said closing the interstate was intended to keep passing drivers and nearby residents out of danger while the stop was underway.
By about 5:26 p.m., an Alachua County deputy reported spotting the Ford F-150 near mile marker 386 on Interstate 75, heading south. Additional deputies and state troopers joined the pursuit. Around 5:30 p.m., an attempt to stop the truck failed when the driver continued at high speed. A trooper then used a precision immobilization technique, forcing the vehicle to a stop on the west shoulder near the Paynes Prairie area south of Gainesville. Deputies issued commands but received no response. After a period without movement, specialized teams approached and found the suspect alone inside, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials later said the decision to close the interstate was made quickly based on the immediate risk to the public.
Investigators said the victims were discovered in western Union County near the Providence community shortly after neighbors reported gunfire. A statewide notice went out while deputies at the scene tried to reach the fleeing suspect by phone. The operation drew a multi-agency response that included SWAT and aviation units from Alachua County, a drone team from Gainesville police, and trained negotiators. Union County Sheriff Brad Whitehead publicly thanked partner agencies and said his office would coordinate with state investigators. Early reports identified the suspect as a 42-year-old man and indicated one victim was his former girlfriend; authorities said she had been moving out with assistance from a friend when the shootings occurred. Officials said they would confirm the victims’ names after next-of-kin notifications and indicated the exact time of the suspect’s death on the roadside has not been publicly detailed. The firearm recovered at the scene is part of the forensic review.
Agency summaries described a chase that began as the pickup moved from High Springs toward Gainesville on U.S. 441, then onto I-75. The interstate was closed in both directions between Micanopy and Williston Road while troopers and deputies contained the stop and established a secure perimeter. The shutdown produced backups for miles until investigators cleared the corridor. Gainesville police assisted with traffic control and aerial assessments, while Florida Fish and Wildlife officers helped monitor the prairie edge and wetlands. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement assumed the lead on the double-homicide investigation at the request of local authorities, a step officials said is standard when scenes span multiple jurisdictions and an in-custody death or suicide occurs during an operation.
Next steps include formal identification of the two victims, autopsies by the Alachua County medical examiner, and a detailed timeline linking the Providence shootings to the highway stop. Sheriff’s offices said they will review patrol car video, aerial footage and 911 recordings to map the sequence of events. FDLE crime scene analysts are processing evidence from the roadside and the residence near County Road 241. Investigators plan to examine traffic camera data, license plate reader hits and dispatch logs to document the route. Any additional firearms recovered will undergo ballistic testing. Because the suspect is deceased, no charges are anticipated, but authorities said the case will produce a final report that can be released under Florida’s public records law after family notifications and required redactions.
Residents in Providence described a rural stretch where homes sit back from the road, and traffic diverted off I-75 crowded nearby gas stations and side roads as dusk fell. Store managers near the Micanopy exit reported steady lines while the interstate was blocked. Law enforcement agencies posted condolences for the victims’ families and noted the coordination among deputies, troopers and local officers. Sheriff Whitehead said investigators were collecting statements to understand the relationship history between the suspect and one of the victims and that counseling resources were offered to responding personnel following the standoff.
By Wednesday morning, the interstate was fully open and the roadside scene had been cleared. Officials said further details, including the victims’ identities and final forensic findings, will be released after next-of-kin notifications and laboratory analysis. A follow-up briefing is expected once state investigators complete the initial case summary.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.