Witness describes moment of abduction in Green Cove Springs triple homicide

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — One of the victims in the triple homicide in Green Cove Springs on Tuesday was known as a nice girl.

Doug Farmer owns the deli next the door to the hair salon where Valorie Short worked. He saw her every day.

“Good girl, real nice girl,” said Farmer. “Too many bad people out there that need to be dead, not her.”

When Valorie wasn’t home with her two children, she was at the Keeping It Classy hair and nail salon.

Deputies said Murray Lancaster abducted Valorie Short from the hair salon Tuesday morning. The owner told Action News Jax that he held everyone at gunpoint and he had a frightening look in his eyes, nothing that she's seen before.

Surveillance video shows Lancaster arriving at the salon in his truck and a couple minutes later he is seen leaving with Valorie Short.

Farmer said he saw her abduction by her boyfriend, Lancaster.

“He dragged her out, threw her in the truck and starting punching her,” Farmer said.

Farmer said he wishes he done more.

"If I would’ve known as they were driving away like that, I could’ve just jumped in my car and ran them off the road," Farmer said.

Valorie Short and her father, Welland “Buddy” Short, were shot and killed.

Lancaster then went to the landfill, where he shot and killed his ex-wife, Erica Green, deputies said. Deputies then found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday afternoon in a trailer.

"When they went by, I didn’t think it was going to get that bad," Farmer said. "It’s crazy. There’s three dead people."

Now the community is remembering the victims and caring for the four children left without mothers.

“It’s hard just hard thinking back to what those four precious babies are going through,” said resident Kathy Allen.

A vigil that is open to the community is expected to start at 6 p.m. at the Keeping it Classy hair and nail salon. People are welcome to bring flowers and candles.

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