In Florida, authorities arrested a 51-year-old woman after she allegedly shot and killed two ex-husbands on the same day, a shocking development that has rattled local communities.
The first shooting occurred in the Heritage Harbor neighborhood of Manatee County on Wednesday afternoon, when the Sheriff’s Office received a call about gunfire. Deputies arrived to find a 54-year-old man with two gunshot wounds. He was shot in the abdomen, Sheriff Rick Wells said in a press conference Thursday. “The victim at the time is still alert and is speaking to us,” Wells added.
The man, who was a former resident of Manatee County, was taken to a local hospital but died of his injuries that night. Before he died, he told authorities he was shot after answering the door to his home. The 54-year-old was the first of the two victims.
A 15-year-old daughter was present at the scene and heard the shots. 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. Wells said the teenager is also Avalon’s daughter and expressed concern about her trauma. “I want you to understand how traumatized she is,” Wells said of the 15-year-old.
Police in Tampa, where Avalon’s second ex-husband lived, said detectives are working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine what charges, if any, are applicable in the case. The Tampa Police Department later found that the second ex-husband had been shot and killed in his home. The incident is linked to an ongoing homicide investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators later located Susan Erica Avalon in her home in Citrus County, where they saw her wiping the silver Honda Odyssey with cleaning rags and bleach. When investigators told her they were there to speak to her about her ex-husband, she responded, ‘which one?’ Wells said.
Court records from the Manatee County Clerk’s Office show that Avalon and the 54-year-old man had been divorced for nearly a decade and had long been dealing with issues of child custody and child support disputes.
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. The theory is based on the timing of the shootings and the evidence found at Avalon’s residence.
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.
Sheriff 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.
The investigation is still unfolding, with authorities working to determine motive and to confirm the relationship between the shooter and the victims. The Tampa Police Department stated that the incident is related to “an ongoing homicide investigation being conducted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.”
The authorities are also looking into whether the shootings were connected to the long-standing custody and support disputes between Avalon and her ex-husbands. The investigation has involved coordination between the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and the State Attorney’s Office.
The case highlights the complexities of domestic violence and the challenges law enforcement faces when multiple jurisdictions are involved. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized the need to locate the weapon and gather forensic evidence.
Key points from the investigation include the rapid response by deputies in Manatee County, the discovery of the silver Honda Odyssey at Avalon’s home, and the involvement of Tampa Police in the second shooting.
The arrest of Avalon is part of a broader effort to bring closure to the families affected by the killings. The charges brought against her are second-degree homicide in Manatee County.
The case remains under investigation, with no attorney listed for Avalon and no further statements released by the victim’s families. Authorities continue to pursue leads and collect evidence.
The focus of the investigation is on locating the murder weapon and searching Avalon’s vehicle for any remaining evidence that could link her to the shootings.
Sheriff Rick Wells emphasized the importance of the investigation, saying, “That’s our goal right now.” He also noted the trauma experienced by the 15-year-old daughter, stating, “I want you to understand how traumatized she is.”
Key Takeaways
- Susan Erica Avalon, 51, arrested after allegedly shooting and killing two ex-husbands in Florida.
- The first victim was a 54-year-old man in Manatee County; the second was an ex-husband in Tampa.
- Authorities believe Avalon first targeted the Tampa ex-husband before heading to Manatee County.
The investigation continues as law enforcement works to uncover the full details of the shootings and to bring justice for the victims and their families.
