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Woman charged in murder of man in front of his kids

A young Jacksonville father was shot dead in front of his children late Sunday night and this morning, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is announcing an arrest.

Assistant Chief Chris Butler says they've arrested 36-year-old Karla Davis and charged her for the murder of 22-year-old Ian Klinedinst.

Asst. Chief Butler says Davis came home from a weekend away to find her house had been robbed. At that same time, two cars she did not recognize were driving by her house, down toward the dead end of Earline Circle North near the Avenues on the Southside.

Butler says Davis got angry, grabbed a handgun, drove to the dead end, and blocked the two cars in. She fired one shot, which hit Klinedinst in the face, killing him in front of his 2-month-old and 7-month-old, who were in the back seat. A third child was in the second vehicle, which police say had just begun to leave the area when the shot was fired.

JSO says Klinedinst and Davis were strangers. They did not go as far as to say that Davis shot Klinedinst because she believed him to be the person who robbed his house.

Police arrived on scene and found Klinedinst dead from his injury. JSO says Davis fled the scene and packed up some belongings. She was arrested Thursday at a hotel and charged with murder. She apparently told police she shot Klinedinst in self-defense, but police say evidence they collected at the scene and from witnesses contradicts that claim.

Davis has a lengthy arrest record that dates back to 2003 and includes a slew of charges for driving with a revoked or suspended license as well as several other traffic and drug charges.

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