William Arthur Keefe, aged 81, tragically lost his life on October 18, 2019, in Saint Augustine, Florida. His death was the result of multiple gunshot wounds, marking a violent end to his life. The incident occurred inside a home located in the 900 block of Oxford Drive within the Royal St. Augustine community. On the day of the incident, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office received a distressing call from an individual in a northeastern state.
This caller reported that a resident of Saint Augustine had expressed intentions to harm herself and another person. Responding to this call, deputies arrived at the scene to find Keefe deceased from gunshot wounds.
The investigation quickly led to the arrest of Jill Sheila Agonis, a 65-year-old woman who was found at the scene with self-inflicted cutting and stabbing wounds. Agonis was discovered sitting in a vehicle parked in the driveway of the home. Despite her injuries, she initially did not comply with deputies' commands to exit the vehicle. After receiving medical aid and being transported to a hospital, Agonis was later arrested with the assistance of the Clay County Sheriff's Office upon her release from medical care. She was charged with second-degree murder with a firearm in connection to Keefe's death.
Further details emerged indicating that the shooting was the culmination of an argument between Keefe and Agonis. The warrant for Agonis's arrest detailed the events leading up to the shooting, revealing that the altercation escalated to a fatal confrontation. The investigation by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office did not indicate the involvement of any other individuals in the incident. However, detectives continued to probe the circumstances surrounding the case to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired.
The tragic death of William Arthur Keefe and the subsequent arrest of Jill Sheila Agonis underscore the devastating impact of domestic disputes that escalate into violence. The legal proceedings following Agonis's arrest aimed to bring justice for Keefe's untimely death, with the charge of second-degree murder reflecting the severity of the crime. The community of Saint Augustine was left to grapple with the shock and sorrow of this violent incident, as the legal system worked to address the ramifications of the tragic event.
