Police: Brother 8 Shot Sister, 5

A 5-year-old Jacksonville girl was shot in the head Saturday by her older brother in their Northside apartment in what police said may have been an accident.

The girl, Taishay Shanks, was in in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville hospital Saturday evening.

Taishay was with her 1- and 8-year old brothers when the older boy found a gun and fired it.

Once the children’s mother was aware of what happened about 12:45 p.m., she sought help, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Neighbors at the River Oaks Apartments on Harts Road said they heard a loud noise from inside the apartment, followed by one of the boys yelling about the girl being shot.

The family moved into the first-floor apartment about 10 months ago, neighbor Detrell Jones said.

No other details were released as the Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney’s Office continue their investigations.

David DeCampMAN CHARGED IN MOTHER’S DEATH

A 26-year-old man and his girlfriend, 22, have been charged in the death of the man’s mother at the Admiral’s Walk trailer park on Mayport Road in Atlantic Beach.

After initially being arrested on drug charges, Brian Davis was charged with murder Friday and Elizabeth Mari Johnston was charged with being an accessory after the fact, the Sheriff’s Office said. Davis’ mother, 53-year-old Ruth Ann Davis, was found Wednesday inside her trailer and believed to have been killed as long as a month earlier. She died of blunt force trauma.

Brian Davis had been living with his mother in the trailer, and Johnston lived nearby.

Times-UnionWOMAN DIES IN I-295 CRASH

A 55-year-old Jacksonville woman died Saturday on Interstate 295 after crashing into a vehicle that was stopping for traffic, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Audrey L. DuBois was southbound on I-295, just north of Duval Road, when she crashed into the back left of a Dodge at 1:56 a.m. She was wearing a seat belt.

The Dodge, which fell onto its side, was occupied by 18-year-old driver Michael J. Bright of Jacksonville and 10-year-old Matthew Barfield of Jacksonville. They both wore seat belts but suffered injuries. Their conditions could not be verified Sunday.

Ken LewisPOLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH

Jacksonville police are investigating the death of 24-year-old woman in the 5600 block of Atlee Ave.

The Sheriff’s Office said it does not appear to be foul play. No other information was available Saturday.

Times-UnionCRASH SHUTS EXPRESSWAY

A car crash shut down the Arlington Expressway in both directions in Jacksonville for several hours Saturday night.

The expressway was blocked from the Mathews Bridge to Cesery Boulevard after a vehicle went through the median and into the oncoming lane near Arlington Road, according to police.

The Florida Highway Patrol did not release details of the crash or any conditions of people involved. At least one person was hospitalized.

Traffic was routed onto service roads and around the closures after the crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m.

David DeCampPUTNAM COUNTYMAN CHARGED WITH SHOOTING SON

A 60-year-old man was accused of shooting his 19-year-old son after an argument about crashing their truck into a second vehicle Saturday in Putnam County, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Kent Smith of Interlachen was driving a Nissan truck on County Road 315 south of Deep Creek Road at 9:30 a.m. with his son, Klint Smith, as a passenger. Kent Smith veered into the opposite lane, striking the side of a Chevrolet driven by Thomas Vaughn, 28, of St. Augustine, the FHP said. Vaughn was not injured, and the Smiths suffered minor injuries. All of them wore seat belts.

After the crash, the Smiths started arguing. Then the father got a firearm and shot his son in his right foot, the FHP said.

Kent Smith was arrested on charges of DUI, aggravated battery with a firearm and domestic violence.

Ken LewisMAN DIES WHEN TRUCK FLIPS

A 43-year-old man died late Friday after his truck flipped and he was thrown from it in Palatka.

Michael Carr, whose hometown was not available, was driving on Old Kings Road when his truck veered off the road, overturned and threw him, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The truck landed on its roof and atop Carr.

He was not wearing a seat belt, the FHP said.

David DeCampST. JOHNS COUNTYBODY IS THAT OF MISSING WOMAN

The body of a Jacksonville woman last seen Tuesday was recovered Saturday on Anastasia Beach in St. Johns County.

The body was identified as that of Evelyn Hogue, 61, of Burnt Mill Road. Her cause of death is pending an autopsy, said Sgt. Chuck Mulligan of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

Hogue’s cream-colored 2003 Cadillac Deville was found in the parking lot of Mickler’s Landing on Tuesday by her husband, the Sheriff’s Office said. No other details about Hogue or the circumstances of her disappearance have been released.

Her husband did not wish to comment Friday, and friends and neighbors could not be reached.

Ken Lewis