Deputies: 2 arrested on attempted murder charges after shooting near Yulee tattoo shop

YULEE, Fla. — June 9 Update: The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said both persons of interest turned themselves in Monday, three days after deputies announced they were searching for them.

They were interviewed by detectives and arrested. NCSO said John Michael Kite faces charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and child neglect.

Ashley Blair Morgan also faces charges of attempted murder and child neglect.

Deputies are still investigating the incident.

Original Story from June 5:

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that its detectives are looking for two persons of interest who may have information about a shooting that happened at the parking lot of a tattoo shop.

The two persons of interest have been identified as Ashley Blair Morgan, 36, and John Michael Kite, 37, both of Fernandina Beach.

According to the sheriff’s office, on Wednesday around midnight, the owner of Freebird Tattoo in Yulee was closing his shop -- when a car drove into the parking lot and five people got out: two adults and three juveniles.

When the business owner saw them, he went back into the business and grabbed a gun, NCSO said. The sheriff’s office said there had been an ongoing feud with several individuals, both adults and juveniles.

A man from the car got out and both he and the owner began shooting, deputies said.

As the individuals who had got out of the car ran back to it, one of the juveniles was struck in the left leg, NCSO said.

When deputies arrived to the area, the tattoo shop owner was found on the sidewalk and had been shot in the torso and left wrist. He told deputies he ran next door to hide at Celebration Assembly Church and then came back. NCSO said he was taken to a hospital in Jacksonville.

Deputies said they also received information that a “juvenile male” who had been shot and possibly involved in the incident, arrived at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville.

“The alleged shooter in the car was dropped off at an unknown location in the Fernandina area and the driver took the juvenile who was shot to Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville,” NCSO said.

The shooting is still under investigation.

Anyone who may have information on the location of the two persons of interest is asked to call detectives at 904-548-4064.

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