Woman kills man in front of his 2-year-old daughter

Police say she she shot, killed a passerby after her house was burglarized

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman is charged with killing a man driving past her house after she came home and found her home burglarized.

Karla Davis, 36, returned to her home on Ancona Drive North Sunday just after 9 p.m. with her daughter and boyfriend when she discovered her house had been broken into.

Police say Ian Klinedinst, 22, was in a vehicle with his 2-year-old daughter and friend. He was being followed by his girlfriend, her friend and two other children in another vehicle. Both vehicles drove by Davis' home on the way to a well-known place for socializing at the end of Earline Circle North.

As they reached their destination, they noticed it had been built-out and turned around as passed Davis' home again. Police say Davis, angry about the burglary, had blocked the road with her car.

Ian Klinedinst

The first car weaved around Davis' car, and as the other car occupied by Klinedinst (pictured) and his 2-year-old passed, Davis fired a shot, hitting Klinedinst's face.

The driver of the other vehicle fired a shot back at Davis' car, but missed. Police say he will not be charged.

Davis went back to her house, packed a bag and went to a hotel. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office found her and arrested her.

Police say Davis claimed the shooting was in self-defense, but witness accounts and physical evidence refute that claim. 

Davis was booked into the Duval County jail charged with murder. At a first-appearance hearing Friday morning, she was ordered held without bond.

Ian's father, Keith Klinedinst, said when he heard that his son had died he was in shock.

"Can't be. But unfortunately it was true. "

Klinedinst said his son's killing may change his idea of having a gun of his own.

"People kill people. Guns don't kill people. I don't like guns. Never owned, never shot, don't intend to. But it is your right to own one and people need to be protected in this violent world we live in today."

Channel 4 also heard from one of Ian's friends who witnessed the shooting and tried to help, only to find the little girl in her dead father's lap, trying desperately to wake him up. The man didn't want his identity revealed. He also believes the murder was premeditated.

"I've been sick to my stomach the past week."

"This shooting was not in self defense," he said.

This is the most recent tragedy for the Klinedinst family.  This victim's grandfather -- 61-year-old Bill Klinedinst -- was killed in 1992 when a concrete block thrown off an overpass on Interstate 295 on the Westside crashed through his windshield.

Because his car continued into the woods after he was hit, his car and body were not found for two months.  The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office never found the person responsible for his death, but the Cold Case Unit has the case still open and the family has offered a $90,000 reward through the Justice Coalition for information leading to a conviction in his death.

If you'd like to help the family, you can go to Vystar. The account number is: 7504592420 

A memorial service for Ian Klinedinst is scheduled for next Saturday.


About the Authors:

Kent Justice co-anchors News4Jax's 5 p.m., 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts weeknights and reports on government and politics. He also hosts "This Week in Jacksonville," Channel 4's hot topics and politics public affairs show each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.