A 51-year-old Florida woman has been charged with second-degree homicide after allegedly killing two former spouses in separate homes on the same day. Authorities say the shootings took place in Manatee and Tampa counties on Wednesday afternoon. Sheriff Rick Wells announced the arrest Thursday, noting the case is still under investigation.
The Incidents
Deputies in the Heritage Harbor neighborhood received a call about a shooting when the 54-year-old man was found with two gunshot wounds. He was shot in the abdomen, Wells said in a press conference Thursday. “The victim at the time is still alert and is speaking to us.” The victim later told officers he was shot after answering the door.
The man’s 15-year-old daughter was present at the home and heard the shots, Wells said. When she looked out the window, the teen spotted someone wearing a gray sweatshirt and a mask getting into a silver Honda Odyssey and driving off. “I want you to understand how traumatized she is,” Wells said of the 15-year-old, who is also Avalon’s daughter.
Investigation and Arrest
The 54-year-old died of his injuries Wednesday night at a local hospital, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Before dying, he told authorities he was shot upon answering the door to his home. Authorities believe Avalon showed up at the victim’s home posing as a food delivery driver, Wells said.
Court records from the Manatee County Clerk’s Office show Avalon and the 54-year-old had been divorced for nearly a decade and had long been dealing with issues of child custody as well as child support disputes. On Wednesday, investigators later located Avalon in her home in Citrus County, where they saw her wiping the silver Honda Odyssey vehicle with cleaning rags and bleach, Wells said. When investigators told her they were there to speak to her about her ex-husband, she responded, “which one?”
Second Ex-Husband
Investigators then began digging into Avalon’s second ex-husband, who lived in Tampa. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office requested the help of the Tampa Police Department to check on the man and found he had been shot and killed in his home. In a news release Thursday, the Tampa police said they believe the incident is related to “an ongoing homicide investigation being conducted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.”
“Investigators are working to determine a motive, but it’s believed the shooter and victim are known to one another,” the news release reads. Authorities believe Avalon first went to Tampa to kill her second ex-husband before heading to Manatee County and shooting her first ex-husband, Wells said.
Arrest and Current Focus
Avalon was arrested on Thursday by sheriff’s deputies in Citrus County, where she lives, on an out-of-county warrant, jail records show. NBC News could not find an attorney listed for Avalon as of Saturday. Wells said his office’s ongoing investigation is focused on finding the murder weapon and searching Avalon’s vehicle for evidence. “That’s our goal right now,” he said.
Key Takeaways
- A 51-year-old woman was arrested for shooting two ex-husbands in Florida.
- The first victim died on the same day the second was found shot in Tampa.
- Investigators believe the woman first went to Tampa before moving to Manatee County.
The case remains under active investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Police Department, with authorities continuing to seek the murder weapon and additional evidence.
