Two arrested for Treehouse Village homicide

Staff report

Updated on September 21 with pre-trial detention information for Howard.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Christian Eugene Howard, 18, and Carey Showers Jr., 18, have been arrested for the murder of Joshua Douglas on September 10 at Treehouse Village Apartments.

At about 8:18 p.m. on September 10, Gainesville Police Department officers responded to a call about a person who had been shot at Treehouse Village Apartments (125 SE 16th Avenue); officers found Douglas on the ground, where he had succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. No suspects were located at the scene, but “numerous” shell casings were found, and a pickup truck that was parked in front of the pool had “numerous” bullet holes.

What the video shows

Video surveillance reportedly shows Douglas and a companion driving into the apartment complex in a pickup truck and parking in front of the pool area. Douglas gets out of the truck, and Showers approaches him on foot; they engage in conversation for a few minutes.

While Douglas and Showers are talking, Howard can be seen surreptitiously approaching on foot from the side of the pool, staying in the shadows, armed with a “rifle/ARP style” firearm. Howard stops behind a tree about 20 feet away from Douglas and Showers, in “an obvious ambush position.”

Soon after Howard arrives, Showers takes a pistol from his waistband and charges toward Douglas in an apparent attempt to rob him. Douglas pushes Showers back, causing Showers to drop his gun and lose his slides.

Howard starts firing “numerous” bullets at Douglas and his companion, hitting Douglas multiple times and striking Showers in the foot. Douglas flees out of the camera’s view, his companion gets out of the truck and flees a short distance, Showers hides under a nearby vehicle, and Howard flees northbound, leaving his slides behind.

Evidence found at the scene

The report notes that Showers was wearing a distinct jacket/hoodie with reflective trim across the chest, back, and pockets. Howard was wearing black-and-white Nike slides, white ankle socks, bright orange shorts with a Nike “swoosh” on the side, and a dark jacket/hoodie.

Two pairs of Nike slides were reportedly found at the scene, one where Howard had been, and one where Showers had been. A yellow belt keychain with a Bic lighter and a key was found under the vehicle where Showers hid; detectives later matched this to a yellow belt keychain in a photo on Showers’ Instagram.

Blood was reportedly found under the vehicle where Showers hid. A Glock-style P80 “ghost gun” with a gun light attachment, extended magazine, and black grip wrap was found, and detectives later matched this gun to photos on Showers’ Instagram.

Douglas’ companion reportedly said he and Douglas went to Treehouse Village to sell a pistol to Showers, and Douglas had been communicating with Showers via Instagram to set up the meeting. Showers sent his location, which showed at the Treehouse Village pool, and Showers approached them on foot after they parked to start negotiating the transaction.

Douglas’ companion said Douglas became agitated with Showers and thought he was “playing” because the Cash App transaction did not go through; he said Showers lunged at Douglas and tried to grab either Douglas or the pistol Douglas intended to sell, and at the same time, he heard gunshots coming from the passenger side of the truck. He said the shooter was wearing orange shorts.

Detectives were familiar with Showers’ Instagram account and knew the account mentioned by Douglas’ companion belonged to Showers; they created a photo lineup with Showers’ photo, and Douglas’ companion reportedly identified Showers as the person who had met with Douglas.

A second witness reportedly told officers that they heard gunshots and then saw someone limping away northbound, saying, “Dear God, help me.”

While officers were still on the scene, Showers’ mother reportedly arrived and said she believed her son may have been involved in the incident and may have been shot, but she could not find him. Officers went to Showers’ father’s home, where they reviewed surveillance video that showed Showers leaving earlier in the evening, wearing a jacket/hoodie with a distinct trim around the pocket, matching the jacket/hoodie shown in the video from Treehouse Village during the shooting incident.

Locating Showers

On September 11, GPD released a photo of Showers, asking the public for information about his location, and they learned that he was at an apartment at Sweetwater on 16th Avenue, directly east of Treehouse Village. Officers staked out the apartment, and a short time later, Showers came out, obviously limping; he reportedly had a plastic bag containing blood-soaked clothing and bandages at the time of his arrest. He was transported to a hospital, where officers confirmed that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his foot.

Additional video from Treehouse Village

Video surveillance at Treehouse Village also reportedly shows Howard entering the complex on foot at 6:42 p.m. on September 10, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, Nike slides, white ankle socks, and bright orange shorts with a Nike “swoosh” on the side.

Detectives reviewed recent contacts with Howard and found body-worn camera evidence that he was wearing the same bright orange shorts when he spoke with an officer in May about an issue with his ankle monitor.

Social media posting

Detectives found an Instagram post that appeared to name Howard as the shooter in the incident.

Search warrant

On September 16, a search warrant was executed at Howard’s residence, and officers reportedly found a pistol in his closet with a grip wrap that was similar to the one on the “ghost gun” found at the scene; one round of .223 caliber rifle ammunition; a pair of white ankle socks that were dirty on the bottom; and a black jacket/hoodie similar to the one worn by the shooter in the video from the shooting incident.

Howard was later found by the Florida Highway Patrol during a traffic stop and was taken into custody.

Howard’s charges

Howard has been charged with homicide while engaged in robbery, attempted armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by an adjudicated delinquent. He has multiple juvenile felony convictions between 2023 and 2025 and cannot legally possess a firearm until he is 24. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial. On September 18, Judge Denise Ferrero granted the motion and ordered him held without bail until trial.

Showers’ charges

According to a release from GPD, Showers has been arrested and charged with homicide and is receiving medical treatment. He was a juvenile at the time of the homicide and turned 18 on September 12; no further information is currently available.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.