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Georgia brothers arrested in fatal shooting of Jacksonville man in Ginnie Springs over parking space: GCSO

HIGH SPRINGS, Florida. – The investigation into two separate shootings in Ginnie Springs over Memorial Day weekend details what caused a celebratory weekend to end with gunfire.

The Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement held a press conference Tuesday to provide updates.

Friday night's shooting occurred after visitors argued over a parking space in the park, according to GCSO.

The two groups fought an hour before the shooting, deputies said. The fighting was thought to be resolved, but Koty Stewart, 34, of Jacksonville, was found shot to death near the Beaver's Landing bathhouse.

Koty Stewart, 34 years old (WJXT)

Two brothers from St. Marys, Georgia, Fisher and Dallas Watts, left the park after the shooting but were later arrested and booked into the Camden County Jail.

Fisher Watts, 18, has been charged with first-degree murder. Dallas was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting arrest without violence.

News4JAX spoke to Stewart's sister about her brother.

“My brother was an INCREDIBLE human being. I wanted nothing more than for his family to be loved and taken care of. His main goal in life was to take care of his loved ones. He was the best son, father, husband, brother and friend. This death has impacted our family in ways I never thought possible. Koty didn't deserve this. He worked every day and came home to his wife and children,” his sister said.

Saturday night's shooting took place around 11:30 p.m. on the roadway inside the park, between Devil's Spring and Tube Launch.

Deputies said a “large” fight broke out, causing someone to shoot into the crowd. Three people were hit and taken to hospital.

Two people were treated and released, but the third person remained in hospital in serious condition.

No arrests have been made in Saturday's shooting.

WATCH: Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office Full Press Conference

The FDLE is awaiting testimony.

Samantha Hoffman was at the park when she said she heard about 11 to 12 gunshots.

“Initially we didn't know the full story and scope of what happened. So we didn’t feel safe at all,” Hoffman said. “We don’t know what started the shooting.”

Hoffman spoke about the park closing.

“At first they were going to close the water area,” she said. “And then throughout the morning, within two hours, they just decided the parks were closed. Everyone has to leave, and they just put up a sign.

If you have any information about these shootings, you are asked to call 386-462-9975.

A total of four people were shot over the weekend.

The sheriff's office said crowd and drug and alcohol problems in Ginnie Springs have intensified over the years.

It is estimated that there were more than 20,000 people in the park this weekend, with only 35 police officers from various agencies.

The shootings closed the park but it was reopened the next day.

Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.

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