Shaina Armstrong, a 30-year-old mother from Saint Augustine, Florida, tragically lost her life on June 16, 2021. Armstrong was driving her car in West St. Augustine when she was ambushed and shot multiple times. The incident occurred around 6:00 PM near the intersection of Christopher and Herbert Street. Armstrong was behind the wheel with her boyfriend in the passenger seat when the shooting took place. She was struck in the back, causing her to lose control of the vehicle and crash.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, Armstrong succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation into Armstrong's death revealed that the shooting was a targeted attack. Her boyfriend, who was in the car at the time, informed investigators that earlier that day, someone had come to their home and warned him to "watch his back" because Evins Harris was going to get him. This warning proved to be a grim prelude to the tragic events that unfolded later that evening. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation, which included interviewing witnesses, analyzing GPS data, and reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses. The evidence pointed to Evins Harris, a 22-year-old man, as the primary suspect in the shooting.
Harris was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder with a firearm. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was subsequently sentenced to 30 years in Florida State Prison. The case against Harris was bolstered by GPS location data that placed him at the scene of the shooting, as well as surveillance footage showing his vehicle in the vicinity at the time of the crime. Additionally, a witness directed deputies to the location where the semi-automatic pistol used in the murder was buried.
The death of Shaina Armstrong was a senseless tragedy that left her family and the community in mourning. Armstrong was remembered as a loving mother of two young daughters, aged six years and eight months at the time of her death. Her godparents, John and Larraine Gaches, described her as a beautiful individual with a lot of life left to live. The loss was particularly devastating for Armstrong's oldest daughter, who idolized her mother. The community's grief was compounded by the knowledge that Armstrong's mother had also been killed eight years prior, leaving a painful legacy of violence and loss.
The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence and its devastating impact on families and communities. Armstrong's death prompted calls for justice and an end to the senseless violence that claimed her life. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office continued to investigate the case, with the possibility of additional arrests being made. The conviction and sentencing of Evins Harris provided some measure of justice for Armstrong's family, but the emotional scars left by her untimely death would take much longer to heal.
