A tragic turn of events unfolded on Christmas Day in Gainesville, Florida, resulting in a deadly encounter during a child custody exchange, as reported by Law and Crime on Tuesday.
Amanda Marie Janzen, a 38-year-old mother of five, now faces severe charges following an incident that led to two fatalities. Janzen is charged with two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree and five counts of child neglect after allegedly shooting the father of her baby and another woman during a planned exchange at a Walgreens parking lot.
The sequence of events leading to the distressing incident commenced on December 20 when a Putnam County family court issued an order for Janzen and the child’s father to share custody equally.
The court-mandated arrangement stipulated that Janzen was to relinquish custody of the infant at 2 p.m. on Christmas Day at a Walgreens location in Gainesville.
On the ill-fated day, Janzen, accompanied by all five of her children, arrived at the pharmacy ahead of the scheduled exchange.
Reportedly, she entrusted her eldest son with her SNAP benefits card, debit card, and instructions to pay a cellphone bill before entering the Walgreens parking lot.
According to the arrest report, while seated in her vehicle, Janzen retrieved a firearm from her bag, readied it, and awaited the arrival of the child’s father.
As the father approached in his vehicle, Janzen purportedly went to the rear of the victim’s car searching for him. However, he had moved back into the front passenger seat.
Allegedly, Janzen fired three shots at him, causing injuries. Tragically, another woman, identified as the new girlfriend of the child’s father, was fatally shot during the exchange.
Amid the chaos, Janzen reportedly shouted, “You made this happen,” as she aimed at the father of the 11-month-old.
A nearby police officer heard the gunshots and swiftly rushed to the Walgreens parking lot, witnessing Janzen’s vehicle fleeing the scene.
A pursuit ensued, involving multiple law enforcement officers trailing Janzen for approximately 13 miles.
The arrest report underscores the appalling nature of the crime, with Janzen now facing charges not only for alleged murder but also for endangering her own children, who were present during the violent incident.
Amanda Marie Janzen, with a criminal history spanning nearly two decades, is presently held on $2 million bond in the Alachua County Jail. She has been provided a public defender as legal proceedings progress.
