On the evening of July 25, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded outside Auntie Lili’s Child Care Center in Starke, Florida, when a woman fatally shot the father of her child during a custody exchange. The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. near the intersection of West Washington Street and North Lake Street, prompting a swift response from the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Mindy Michelle Osteen, allegedly shot 37-year-old Christopher Travis Jones multiple times outside the daycare as both were present to pick up their children. According to authorities, the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute, with the two parents reportedly engaged in an argument prior to the shooting. Osteen is said to have walked from one side of a vehicle to the other before opening fire with a handgun.
Jones, who sustained several gunshot wounds, was rushed to a local hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Osteen was taken into custody at the scene, and the firearm used in the shooting was recovered by law enforcement. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that no children were injured during the incident, and the nearby Bradford High School was briefly placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.
Sheriff Gordon Smith reported that both Osteen and Jones had a history of domestic violence, which may have contributed to the altercation. Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and Osteen remains in custody as the case progresses. The incident has shaken the Starke community, with law enforcement maintaining a presence in the area to ensure safety and support the ongoing investigation.