Christian Eugene Howard, an 18-year-old Gainesville man, was arrested Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted robbery.
According to the arrest report, 18-year-old Joshua Patrick Douglass and an unnamed witness went to Treehouse Village Apartments Thursday to sell a pistol to 18-year-old Carey Fernard Showers Jr., who they had been contacting through Instagram.
The two men parked a pickup truck in front of the pool. Douglass got out of the vehicle while the witness stayed behind, and Showers walked up to him, according to surveillance footage.
The two talked for several minutes while Howard approached from the other side of the pool with a rifle, keeping to the shadows, according to the report. It is unknown how Howard or Showers arrived at the scene.
The witness told officers Showers was agitated and said Douglass was “playing” him because the Cash App transaction wasn’t going through.
Howard continued to approach until he was 20 feet from the two men, using a tree to conceal himself from Douglass’ view. According to the report, Howard was in an “obvious ambush position.”
Soon after Howard took his position, Showers grabbed a pistol concealed at his waist and charged toward Douglass to try to rob him. According to the report, Douglass shoved Showers to avoid being robbed, causing Showers to drop his firearm.
Howard then repeatedly fired his gun at Douglass and Showers, hitting Douglass multiple times and striking Showers once in the foot.
Surveillance footage shows all four men leaving the scene after the shots were fired, according to the arrest report.
When the Gainesville Police Department arrived at the scene, law enforcement found Douglass deceased outside a nearby building.
According to the report, Showers’ mother arrived at the scene and said she believed her son may have been involved in the shooting but couldn’t locate him.
Law enforcement found Showers the next day at an apartment complex east of Treehouse Village Apartments. It’s unclear how law enforcement found his location. Showers was taken into custody and transported to the hospital to receive treatment for his gunshot wound, according to the report.
Law enforcement identified Howard by reviewing surveillance footage and Showers’ Instagram mutuals.
According to the report, Howard had multiple juvenile felony adjudications — charges that would have been considered felonies if he was of age — prior to the incident. The charges legally prevent him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Howard was charged with murder, attempted robbery with an armed firearm and two counts of possession of a firearm by a delinquent under 24 years old. Showers was also charged with homicide in connection with the case, according to a GPD Facebook post.
Howard was booked into the Alachua County Jail where he awaits trial.
Showers is still being treated at the hospital.
Contact Teia Williams at twilliams@alligator.org. Follow her on X @teia_williams.
Teia Williams is a journalism senior at UF and the Fall 2026 criminal justice reporter. This is her fourth semester with The Alligator. If she isn't writing an article, you can find her a concert, reading a book or somewhere soaking up the sun.
