“This is way too much for us to deal with…” said an anonymous resident who lives behind the Mobil Gas Station in Quincy on 3749 Pat Thomas Pkwy.
Thursday, two people were killed, and two people were injured in an armed robbery at the gas station.
Once a quiet, close-knit community, the gas station and food store in the Shiloh area now have a haunted, unsettling atmosphere. The gas station entrance is protected by crime scene tape, the drive-through has broken glass, and the pavement in front of the entrance door has bloodstains on it.
Suspect Dominic Caroway, age 44, fled in a white SUV after killing a gas clerk, Laura Darley, and Julian Green, who happened to be visiting the station.
According to Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office Dept., Caroway, from Avondale, AZ, happened to be in the Shiloh community and appeared to have notorious crimes as a “lone wolf.” A criminal acting alone and independent of others with no known affiliations.
His identification was confirmed by the use of biometric identification, Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), facial recognition technology, and the Arizona Dept. of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division databases.
“I pray they catch him. This man from Quincy, FL, shooting and killing everyone before being arrested, be careful, Suwannee County… prayers for all the families lives he has already taken,” posted Facebook user Tiana Williams.
Caroway crashed more than 100 miles away in Suwannee County (Live Oak) and shot two officers after a confrontation. According to the law enforcement press release on Facebook, he was later shot and killed by a SWAT team.
“The monster got what he deserved after taking the life of the innocent people and injuring three others,” Sheriff Maurice Young of Gadsden County said.
The gas clerk Darley, a wife and mother, was highly respected in the neighborhood. Her untimely tragic death shocked the two roof workers for Bostock Temple Christian Center, which is next door to the gas station and food mart.
Eric Rogers, Bostock Church roof worker, said, “We were just over there twice that day, and we had just left…She was a nice girl.”
Rogers kept emphasizing how Darley was nice, she came into work at the gas station, filling in for another female gas clerk he knows.
“I can’t believe that somebody would come in there and do what they did, you know? It’s just unthinkable,” Rogers said.
At the church, Rogers and an unnamed roof worker both talked about how they could have been the ones killed in the gas station tragedy next door.
“We went over there on Thursday morning, and we went Thursday afternoon after we finished everything ’cause, you know, we were fixing to get ready to hit the interstate…” the roof worker said.
He described how the robbery and shooting happened 15 to 20 minutes before they left.
The roof worker also attends the Church with his wife. He mentioned how he and Rogers didn’t know who Caroway was until they identified him by picture.
He added how the killer stopped by and scoped out the Church, watching him and Rogers as they were working that same day.
“As I have seen the guy’s photo, this guy came over, walked over here where we were, spoke to us and everything, and went back,” the roof worker said. “Nobody deserved it. But the lady that got killed was just super. We [were] just over there having fun with her, cutting up… we laughed… it’s just a sad situation.”
Jesse Darley who is the widowed husband of Laura Darley made a post on Facebook. He called this a senseless act of extreme violence.
Darley expressed his love for his deceased wife on Facebook.
“I just want to say that, baby, I love you, and I miss you so very much, and I am so sorry that this happened to you. You were my rock, and I don’t know how I am going to do this without you…”
He asks everyone on Facebook to pray for him and use CashApp if they would like to donate towards the funeral costs.
The second murdered victim was Julian Green, Amos P. Godby, High School Alum and staff associate at J.P. Moore Mortuary & Cremation Services in Madison, FL. Family and close peers shared heartfelt posts on Facebook as well.
J.P. Moore Mortuary & Cremation Services made an official statement on Facebook on behalf of Green’s passing.
Within the statement, it said, “Julian’s unwavering dedication and compassionate service profoundly impacted the families we serve. His infectious spirit and genuine care for others were evident in every interaction, leaving an indelible mark on our community…”
“My baby. My heart. My brother. My friend. My protector. My rider,” Courtney Black, Green’s sister posted on Facebook. “I’ll never allow a coward to share in your legacy… this day and every day forward is about YOU, your heart, your life, your Legacy!! A true hero with a heart of gold.”
On Facebook, Darley and Green’s peers and family are showing support for one another by posting images of the two victims and requesting donations for their respective funerals.
Sheriff Young says that he hopes no one would have to live in terror while residing in, traveling, or working in Gadsden.