Florida dad allegedly guns down and runs over his lover. His 5-year-old witness saw it all: ‘Daddy shot Jess’
A little girl witnessed what no child should ever have to see
An argument between a couple should never end with someone losing their life. But a Florida man allegedly shot his girlfriend and ran over her with his car. His 5-year-old daughter was reportedly inside the vehicle when it happened.
From a Florida man accused of shooting his girlfriend inside a $1.5 million home to another accused of killing his partner in a parking lot, these cases raise troubling questions about violence in relationships. This time, a young child reportedly witnessed the attack.
According to PEOPLE, 40-year-old Christopher Dodge Smith allegedly shot his girlfriend, 30-year-old Jessica Antolini, before driving over her body. Antolini died two days later. What Smith’s daughter reportedly told police makes the case even more disturbing.
What happened that day was horrifying
On October 13, Smith allegedly arrived at a Florida bar with his 5-year-old daughter, looking for Antolini. According to the arrest affidavit, witnesses who knew him noticed something unusual about his behavior.
They described Smith as acting “extremely strangely” and walking around as though he were “possessed.” Witnesses also believed he appeared to be aggressively “hunting down Antolini.”
When Smith eventually found his girlfriend, the two reportedly got into a verbal argument in the parking lot. He then walked toward his vehicle, and Antolini followed him. What happened next went beyond a threat to kill.
Police allege Smith pulled out a firearm and shot Antolini in the face. The bullet reportedly entered through her left eye and exited the back of her skull.
But the shooting wasn’t the end of the alleged attack. Smith reportedly fled the parking lot with his daughter still inside the vehicle, running over Antolini’s body as he drove away.
The child wasn’t the only person who reportedly knew what had happened. According to the affidavit, Smith called his mother after the shooting and told her he was bringing his daughter over because he had “messed up” and “shot Jess.”
Meanwhile, multiple witnesses called 911 to report the shooting. They also provided information about Smith’s vehicle, helping authorities locate him.
Deputies eventually spotted the car and attempted to pull Smith over. However, he allegedly refused to stop, forcing officers to immobilize the vehicle.
Investigators found his 5-year-old daughter and a dog inside the car. Neither was injured.
The most troubling detail came from the little girl herself. Police allege she witnessed the shooting and repeatedly told officers, “Daddy shot Jess.”
Antolini was rushed to Bayfront Hospital with life-threatening injuries following the October 13 shooting. Despite receiving medical treatment, she died on Thursday, October 15.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Smith’s charge was upgraded to first-degree murder following her death. Smith, 40, is being held without bond at the Pinellas County Jail. The motive behind the alleged killing remains unclear, as authorities have not disclosed what caused the couple’s argument.
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