A “normal” lieutenant at a Florida fire department killed his wife and then himself in a disturbing murder-suicide on Thursday evening.
Shawn Yarbrough, 46, and his wife, Andrea Nicole Yarbrough, were found dead in their home in the Entrada neighborhood off County Road 207 around 9:20 p.m.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office determined that while Shawn’s cause of death indicated suicide, Andrea’s death appeared to be the result of a homicide.
Shawn and Andrea, who worked as a financial manager, had four children together, who are still young and are now left without parents.
Shawn Yarbrough, 46, and his wife, Andrea Nicole Yarbrough, were found dead in their Florida home in a murder-suicide around 9:20 p.m.
Shawn Yarbrough’s death was ruled a suicide, while his wife’s death was ruled a homicide
Shawn was a prominent lieutenant with the St Johns County Fire Department, where he was hired in March 2004.
The Yarbroughs were found in their home in the Entrada neighborhood on County Road 207, which they purchased in August 2022.
Although it is still unclear whether or not the children were in the home during the gruesome scene, a neighbor said News4JAX that the couple’s children were not in the home at the time of the shooting.
Another neighbor expressed his great shock at the tragedy, explaining that they were a “typical nice family.”
‘They are very nice, very relaxed people. Just really sincere people,” the neighbor said in disbelief News4Jax.
He added that he never heard an argument or saw any evidence of domestic trouble.
‘I didn’t know they had any problems at all. Like it [other] neighbors said, ‘they’re just like a normal family.'”
Shawn and Andrea Yarbrough married in December 2022 and purchased the house in which their bodies would later be found in August of that same year.
Before his promotion to lieutenant, Yarbrough (far right) was an engineer
A neighbor said he never heard an argument or saw any evidence of domestic trouble between the two
One neighbor expressed his great shock at the tragedy, explaining that they were a “typical nice family.” ‘They are very nice, very relaxed people. Just really genuine people,” the neighbor told News4Jax in disbelief
By the time the neighbor arrived home at 12:30 p.m., numerous police and forensic vehicles were already there.
On Friday, the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed at a news conference that it was a murder-suicide, calling the horrific scene a “tragic isolated incident.”
Chief medical examiner Dr. Wendolyn Sneed told it Historical city news that Andrea Yarbrough’s cause of death was a gunshot wound, and her manner of death was identified as homicide.
Shawn and Andrea Yarbrough married in December 2022 and purchased the house in which their bodies would later be found in August of that same year.
In the case of Shawn Yarbrough, Dr. However, Sneed determined that his gunshot wound was self-inflicted.
Prior to her passing, Andrea worked as a finance associate for Graybar in Jacksonville, beginning her career there in 2019.
Shawn was a prominent lieutenant with the St Johns County Fire Department, where he was hired in March 2004. Before his promotion to lieutenant, he was an engineer.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office determined that while Shawn’s cause of death was suicide, Andrea’s death appeared to be the result of a homicide.
“They’re just like a normal family,” a neighbor said of the couple
In the case of Shawn Yarbrough, the lead investigator determined that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted
The head of the fire department where Shawn worked has since broken his silence about the horrific event.
On X.comChief Sean McGee posted a statement saying, “The recently reported events were unexpected, shocking and tragic for all those affected.”
Chief McGee further noted how the department has been devastated by the tragedy.
“As a department, we are deeply saddened by the loss of life and recognize its lasting impact on the families and children of those affected.”
The fire chief concluded his statement by saying, “My sincere prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to the victims, their families and friends who are left grieving as a result of these events.”
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is still actively investigating the incident and trying to determine what caused the horrific shooting.
The head of the fire department where Shawn worked has since broken his silence on the horrific event, posting a statement on X.com.
Just two weeks ago, Shawn Yarbrough uploaded a photo of himself smiling next to his wife with the caption, “Sometimes we dress up.”
Shawn Yarbrough appeared on Facebook as his neighbors typically called him.
Many of his posts consist of photos of him with his wife and children. Less than two weeks ago, he uploaded a photo of himself smiling next to his wife with the caption: “Sometimes we dress up.”
And in a post from earlier this year, Shawn Yarbrough boasted about his children’s academic success, which he attributed to his wife’s efforts.
“Reports just came out a few days ago,” he wrote. ‘Kids are still doing very well, even with the advanced/honors classes. Thank you Andrea Nicole Yarbrough for all your hard work and dedication to the children’s success.”