LAKE CITY, Fla. – Police say two people are dead and another is in critical condition at the hospital after a shooting in Lake City.
This shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. Saturday at a home on Jaguar Drive in the Cypress Landing neighborhood.
Police said the father, identified as Khoa Trong Vu, 41, walked into the home and got into an argument with his wife. Police say Vu then shot his wife to death and then turned the gun on his 17-year-old daughter. The father also shot a 14-year-old son.
According to police, another 23-year-old son was able to tackle and restrain his father until police arrived and took the man into custody.
Vu (shown in Columbia County Sheriff's Office booking photo) was arrested and held on two charges of willful homicide.
The daughter is in critical condition at the hospital. The names of all involved were not immediately released.
Neighbors say the family owned a nail salon.
"I've been to Lake City Nails and have gotten my nail sand eyebrows done. They've been open for a while. They seemed like really nice people. They were a close-tight knit family. You never know what's happening behind closed doors," Marie Jones said.
"I wouldn't think he was ever capable of hurting anybody," said family friend Jacqueline Brower-Haake. "I didn't know what would make him snap. I don't know."
People left flowers, balloons and candles Saturday at the family-owned business on Marion Avenue.
Brower-Haake told News4Jax she's been close with the family for about seven years. She said Vu had suffered from medical problems and they were taking a toll.
"He called me. He said, 'Auntie, I'm worried too much,'" Brower-Haake said.
News4Jax isn't naming the victims, but Brower-Haake said Vu's wife was an angel on earth. She said the boy and the girl spent a lot of time at their parents' shop. She said they had a strong work ethic and were kind to everyone. Her focus now is honoring their memories.
"You always say, it's always somebody else, no one you love most or your own family. To me, they're like my own family," said Brower-Haake.
A fall festival that was supposed to take place Saturday night at Columbia High School was postponed due to the incident. The principal of the school posted on a Facebook page that grief counselors will be at the school for students when the doors open Monday.
A candlelight vigil in honor of the students is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday at Tiger Stadium.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is in charge of the murder investigation.
