Bullets struck a vehicle and several nearby homes as children were present, but authorities said no one was hit by gunfire.
CLAY COUNTY, FL — A 32-year-old man has been arrested after investigators said he opened fire with a rifle during a child custody exchange in Oakleaf Plantation, prompting the child’s father to return fire as bullets struck a vehicle and several nearby homes.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office identified the arrested man as Darrius Elighah Winard Kirkland. Authorities said he faces charges of attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and child abuse in connection with the Sept. 18 shooting. No one was struck by gunfire, including the children who were present, according to investigators. The investigation remained active after Kirkland’s arrest.
The shooting unfolded shortly before 5 p.m. during a regularly scheduled custody exchange involving Kirkland’s girlfriend and her estranged husband, the Sheriff’s Office said. Investigators said Kirkland accompanied the woman to the exchange while armed with an AR-style rifle and a semiautomatic pistol. Authorities said Kirkland, whom they described as a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, got out of the vehicle carrying the rifle as the father arrived.
According to investigators, one young child got out of the vehicle carrying the mother and Kirkland and began walking toward the father’s vehicle. Kirkland then pointed the rifle toward the father as he was getting out and fired multiple rounds, the Sheriff’s Office said. The father returned fire with a pistol before retreating through neighboring yards. Investigators said the father’s vehicle was hit several times while another young child was still inside.
The children and their mother escaped the exchange without being struck, authorities said. The mother initially took cover on the ground during the gunfire and then moved both children to safety after the shooting stopped. Several houses also were struck by stray bullets, but authorities reported no injuries inside the homes. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ben Ryan described the incident as “a very troubling situation given that kids were involved.”
Residents began calling 911 about gunfire on Bayridge Court shortly before 5 p.m. Additional calls soon reported a vehicle crash on nearby Piedmont Manor Drive and a man running through a homeowner’s backyard. Deputies established a perimeter as they worked to locate everyone involved and secure the residential area.
Investigators said the father later returned to the scene and surrendered to responding deputies. He and the mother cooperated with detectives and were interviewed. Authorities have not announced charges against the father in connection with the exchange. The Sheriff’s Office has said the circumstances surrounding the gunfire remain under investigation.
Kirkland fled in his girlfriend’s vehicle after the shooting, according to investigators. Authorities said the vehicle crashed into a tree and Kirkland then tried to hide in the yard of a nearby residence. The crash caused the vehicle and tree to catch fire, and an unoccupied vehicle parked nearby also caught fire. Clay County Fire Rescue extinguished the fires, but authorities said both vehicles involved in the fire were fully engulfed before crews put out the flames.
A Clay County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team located Kirkland with help from people in the community, authorities said. He received medical treatment for injuries related to the incident and was interviewed by detectives before his arrest. A large portion of Piedmont Manor Drive remained closed for several hours while investigators obtained search warrants and collected evidence from multiple locations tied to the shooting and crash.
The shooting left residents dealing with damage from rounds that traveled beyond the confrontation. Authorities said no continuing threat to the Oakleaf community had been identified after those involved were located. The fact that gunfire reached neighboring homes became a central concern as investigators documented the separate scenes and determined where shots had traveled.
The Sheriff’s Office said the case remains active and asked anyone with information to contact investigators. Authorities had not announced additional arrests or released further details about what led to the confrontation as of Sunday.
Author note: Last updated September 20, 2026.