One week after Jason Chatham and Melissa Wood were killed in a double shooting outside a Walgreens in Ponte Vedra Beach, Chatham’s family is grieving the unforeseen loss.
Read full article: ‘I wanted it to be a bad dream’: Niece remembers man killed in Ponte Vedra double shootingBlind Clay County fourth grader finds new world in Braille books. How a statewide program is making it possible Read full article: Blind Clay County fourth grader finds new world in Braille books.
How a statewide program is making it possible‘Trying to find a plan’: The Block Jax owner working on solutions to parking chaos that spilled into neighboring lots Read full article: ‘Trying to find a plan’: The Block Jax owner working on solutions to parking chaos that spilled into neighboring lotsPolice search for suspect connected to deadly shooting at Jacksonville apartment complexwere killed in a double shooting outside a Walgreens in Ponte Vedra Beach, Chatham’s family is grieving the unforeseen loss. Chatham’s niece, Aliya Jade, said she is still struggling to process what happened. “I didn’t really know how to respond in that moment,” Jade said. “I wanted it to be a bad dream. I didn’t want it to be true.” She added that accepting the loss won’t come easily. “It’s gonna be hard to accept it. I can’t accept it and I won’t and I don’t want to, but I’m gonna have to eventually. But right now it’s still kind of a fresh wound,” she said. While many people learned Chatham’s name through headlines in the days after the shooting, Jade said friends and family knew him as “Uncle Dirt” and “the life of the party.” She said he wasn’t only an uncle to her, but a familiar presence to many people around him. “He was Uncle Dirt, not just to me, but to everybody,” Jade said. “To any kid he knew, really.” ‘I hope you’re dancing in the sky’: Man killed in Ponte Vedra double shooting remembered as ‘life of the party’ Jade described Chatham as someone who brought energy wherever he went. “If you wanted to have a good time, he was loud, and he brought the energy,” she said. Chatham also leaves behind his son, Blade, who is 11 and turns 12 next week. Jade said the family tried to maintain a sense of normalcy for him after the loss. The day after the shooting, Blade still chose to play the game his father loved to see him play, which is baseball. “We gave him the option to play,” Jade said. “He said, ‘I’m going to play — that’s what my daddy would want me to do.’ And he went out there, and he did his thing and played his heart out.” Mother of man accused of killing 2 outside Ponte Vedra Walgreens drove him to site of shooting, unredacted report shows As the family navigates life’s milestones without Chatham, they’re leaning on one another for support. They held an early birthday celebration for Blade while trying to hold onto the memories they cherish most. Jade said she’s grateful for one last exchange with her uncle. “The last thing I got to tell him was, I love you,” she said. Authorities said 32-year-old Christian Barrios is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and other felony charges in connection with the shooting. He is being held without bond.Ashley French is a News4JAX reporter who joined the station in January 2026 after reporting in Southwest Florida and East Texas.Walk the Talk: Epilepsy Alliance Florida hosts awareness walk at Jacksonville ZooGators, Hurricanes begin quest for national title; Bulldogs end season in first roundFather says his daughter was detained at Blue Cypress Park teen takeoverThe first day of spring is here! Michelle gives a look at the temperatures into the weekendUnredacted arrest warrant reveals new details about double shooting in Ponte VedraA teen told a 79-year-old man he’d clean his driveway. Then he took him to withdraw over $10kI need a drop top office! A spring fling then it feels like summerWhat police want parents to know about 'teen takeovers' after Arlington gathering ends in arrestsJacksonville city councilman pushing to roll out Waymo; Safety analysts have some concernsMother of 18-year-old killed at Westside Burger King serves customers, pays for meals in son’s honorJacksonville approves next step in bringing UF campus to cityPulse nightclub demolished as Orlando moves toward permanent memorial for 49 victims of massacre
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