Florida Woman Accused of Fatally Shooting Children's Father Outside Day Care

STARKE, Fla. — A Florida woman is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder, after allegedly shooting and killing the father of her children during a pickup at a day care last week.

Mindy Osteen, 34, was booked into the Bradford County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, cruelty toward a child, possession of a weapon, and larceny following the deadly incident outside Auntie Lili’s Daycare in Starke.

According to an arrest report, Osteen approached 37-year-old Christopher Travis Jones on Friday as he was picking up their two children from the facility. Witnesses told investigators that Osteen walked up with a backpack, hugged the children, and allowed Jones to place them in the back seat of his vehicle.

As Jones got into the driver’s seat, authorities say Osteen pulled a firearm from the bag and fired three rounds into the car. She then stepped back and fired two more times.

Jones reportedly exited the vehicle and tried to flee, but Osteen fired another shot as he ran toward the day care. He became trapped between the front door and a locked second security door.

At that point, investigators say Osteen fired three more shots at him. When her gun jammed, she walked outside to clear the malfunction before returning and allegedly saying, “You got to die ... you can’t kill my kids.” Jones responded, “I’m not killing nobody.”

Sheriff’s deputies arrived moments later and found Jones critically injured. Before being transported to a hospital, he identified Osteen as the shooter. He later died from his injuries.

Osteen reportedly surrendered to deputies at the scene, telling them, “I’m right here, y’all. I done it in self-defense.”

Authorities confirmed that, in addition to the couple’s two children, six other children and two staff members were inside the day care during the shooting. No other injuries were reported.

The investigation is ongoing.