Deputies are actively searching for a man they say has information about a Friday night shooting that left one Hawthorne woman dead.
On Monday afternoon, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office announced in a press release their search for Blake Carrington Jackson, 21, as a person of interest in the shooting of Christin Marie Cassels, 23. Citing witness interviews and evidence from the crime, deputies say Jackson likely has specific knowledge about Cassels’ death or was nearby when the shooting happened, said ACSO Sgt. Chris Sims.
At about 11:25 p.m. Friday, deputies responding to reports of a shooting found Cassels inside an enclosed garage behind her home, at 7815 SE U.S. Route 301, according to the release.
Inside, deputies found Cassels dead from an apparent gunshot wound. It appeared that multiple rounds had been fired into the garage structure from outside, according to the release.
Immediately after deputies arrived at the scene, Sims said, they became concerned that any suspects had run into a large wooded area behind Cassels’ residence. They then searched the woods with ACSO’s air unit, SWAT team and K-9 unit, according to the release.
“Investigators have been working all weekend,” Sims said. “I mean around the clock.”
Officers have suspended their search for a suspect in Cassels’ shooting until further leads develop, he said. They’re hoping that Jackson can provide insight as to what happened Friday night.
“We have no idea if they intended to shoot her,” Sims said. “They haven’t even uncovered a clear motive as to why the shooting occurred.”
Jackson, a Gainesville resident, was arrested March 3 in Broward County, Florida, on a grand theft auto charge, according to county court records. The case is still pending, according to the records.
As of press time, Sims said deputies do not know the degree to which Jackson may or may not have been involved in Cassels’ death.
“We cannot definitely confirm whether (he was) directly involved,” he said.
