Victim, shot in face during Jacksonville double murder-suicide ambush, now awake in hospital

On Monday the mother of a woman shot in the face in a deadly double murder-suicide said she was grateful the 32-year-old is alive.

She told Action News Jax Jessica Carter was awake and recovering and UF Health.

ORIGINAL STORY: Murder-suicide leaves 3 dead, 2 hurt, police say

Investigators said Ryan Chesser and Eric Bryant were killed Saturday morning and then the suspect, Jacoby King, took his own life.

According to officers, two others were shot and survived.

The owner of Incahoots night club, Staci Ybarra, said the entire group was in her club just hours before the attack.

“We saw Jacoby came in but I didn’t see any issues or problems. Everybody just looked like they were having a good time,” she described.

Police believe King and Chesser previously dated.

Ybarra explained, “They were together for about six months. They lived together for about three months and then Ryan broke up with him due to Jacoby’s infidelity.”

Local LGBTQ members say the three were known in the tight-knit community.

“It’s heartbreaking to see something like this happen, especially when it’s gay on gay crime, that is really the worst,” Ybarra said.

A close friend of Eric Bryant told Action News Jax he was trying to understand the reason behind the attack.

Lee Singh said, “I can’t come to any kind of conclusion why these two angels on earth would be taken from us.”

Ybarra said the entire community is struggling with the loss.

“We’re really connected, so, when we lose somebody that we love or that we’ve hung out with or it has just been a friend that we’ve socialized with, it’s heart wrenching because you know it could always be you,” she said.

A benefit for the victims’ families is set for Sunday at Incahoots.

Cox Media Group