CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Clay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Darrius Elighah Winard Kirkland, 32, in connection with Friday evening’s shooting in the Oakleaf neighborhood during a child custody exchange.
Kirkland has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and child abuse, police said.
On Friday, about 5 p.m., Kirkland accompanied his girlfriend to a regularly scheduled child custody exchange with her estranged husband.
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.
Shortly after the arrival of the father in his vehicle, the young child of Kirkland’s girlfriend exited the vehicle they were riding in and began walking to her father’s vehicle. Kirkland also exited the vehicle with the rifle and pointed it at the father’s vehicle as he was getting out.
Kirkland began firing the rifle numerous times at the father, who returned fire with his own pistol before retreating into neighboring yards. The father’s vehicle was struck by bullets numerous times while another young child was inside, police said in the...