LAWTEY, Fla. — Family members are sharing more details on the mother and her two daughters shot to death inside a home in Bradford County Tuesday morning.
Around 3:15 a.m., the Bradford County Sheriff's Office responded to a home on NE 17th Avenue in Lawtey in reference to a disturbance.
They found three women shot to death inside a bedroom; Quinqune 'Kat' Robinson, 49, Danesha Sims, 27, and Winshay Roddey, 25.
An 11-year-old girl who was in the home at the time of the shooting made the 911 call. She is the granddaughter of Robinson, according to Bradford County Sheriff's Colonel Brad Smith; Sims and Roddey were her aunts.
“Really sad, I know Kat and her daughters, they were really sweet, never thought that this would happen," Kisha Cruger, a cousin-in-law, said.
As police responded to the home where the women were found shot dead, a crowd of family gathered on the street some shedding tears, others sharing hugs as they came to realize their loved ones are gone.
Family says the three were always together, the daughters were nicknamed "Little Kats" after their mother.
“They look so much like their momma, I just call them Little Kat. I be like ‘Hey, Little Kat’ you know. That’s what I would call them," Yolanda Jones, a cousin, said.
The man charged with the murders was the oldest victim’s boyfriend. The family is still trying to grasp that the man they’ve seen for years with their loved ones is now charged with their murder.
“It just brings a lot back, because I’ve been a victim of domestic violence and it just brings a lot back, the whole situation is just terrible.”
46-year-old Johnnie Bernard Brown was booked into the Alachua County Jail following the Lawtey triple shooting Tuesday morning. He is charged with four counts of murder, including one that is listed as attempted, his arrest report states.
The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office does offer services to victims of Domestic Violence crimes. That number is (904) 966-6160.
“Oftentimes, people may know there’s some type of domestic violence in the home, they just didn’t anticipate it would end in such a violent way like this situation," said Dr. Gail Patin, the CEO of Hubbard House, a domestic violence center.
Patin says it's important for people to always be on the lookout for signs of domestic violence like bruises, someone desperate to get home at a certain time or stay away from home.
“If you’re a community member, and you’re thinking ‘What can I do?’ First of all, believe the survivor," said Patin. "Help them understand there is support out there. Give them the opportunity to make that call away from the abuser, or possibly with your phone.”
Dr. Patin says Hubbard House has noticed a spike in violence when a survivor is planning to leave and the abuser knows about it.
Patin says survivors can call, regardless if they plan to leave or not.
“We’re there to listen to you, to safety plan with you and help you figure out what is the best plan for you and your children," said Patin. "You are not alone. Know that you are brave and we are here, wanting to help in anyway that we can.”
Patin says there are 40 different domestic violence centers in Florida, including Peaceful Paths, the organization that represents Bradford County, where this shooting happened.
If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline is: 1-800-500-1119 or visit their website here, and the Georgia Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-344-2836 or visit their website here.