In Perry, Florida, a devastating shooting has shattered the peace, leaving two teenagers dead and four others wounded in a violent outburst that has left the tight-knit Taylor County community reeling. On the night of Thursday, August 21, 2025, chaos erupted inside a residential unit at Perrytown Apartments, where gunfire claimed young lives and sparked an urgent investigation that has gripped the region.

At the center of this tragedy is 18-year-old Jaquez Arion Price, a Perry resident now facing a litany of grave charges, including first-degree murder while armed, attempted first-degree murder, and armed burglary. Authorities apprehended Price on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in a dramatic turn of events following his treatment at a Tallahassee hospital for a gunshot wound he sustained during the incident. The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD), acting on an out-of-county warrant issued by the Perry Police Department (PPD), swiftly took Price into custody upon his discharge. He was transported to the Leon County Jail, where he remains held without bond, awaiting the next steps in a case that has stunned the community.

The shooting unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, just after midnight, when multiple shots rang out inside an apartment at Perrytown Apartments. According to PPD Chief Jamie Cruse, the hail of bullets left four teenagers injured and two others fatally wounded. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed, a decision authorities attribute to the ongoing investigation’s sensitivity. The scene was one of unimaginable horror, as young lives were cut short and others were left fighting for survival in the aftermath of the violence.

Chief Cruse, speaking with measured resolve, emphasized the department’s commitment to justice. “We are working diligently to ensure those responsible for this tragic act are brought to justice,” he said, his words carrying the weight of a community’s grief. While details remain scarce to protect the investigation’s integrity, the PPD, alongside the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), is leaving no stone unturned in their quest for answers.

The senseless loss of life has sent shockwaves through Perry, a small town unaccustomed to such brutality. Residents, still grappling with the news, are mourning the vibrant futures stolen from the young victims. Community leaders have issued impassioned pleas for an end to the escalating violence that threatens to erode the fabric of their town. “This is a wake-up call,” one local official remarked, urging residents to unite against the tide of tragedy. The call for information has grown louder, with authorities imploring anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward, either directly to the PPD or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

As investigators piece together the events of that fateful night, questions linger about the motive behind the shooting and whether others may be involved. The community waits anxiously for clarity, hoping that justice will bring some measure of solace to those affected. The Perry Police Department has promised further updates, with more details expected in the upcoming Wednesday edition of the *TaCo Times*, as the investigation continues to unfold.

In Perry, a town now cloaked in sorrow, the road to healing will be long. Yet, amid the pain, there is a collective resolve to honor the lost by seeking answers and fostering a safer future. For now, the community holds its breath, united in grief and hope, as they await justice for the lives forever changed by a single, tragic night.