Florida authorities arrested a 51-year-old woman after she shot and killed two ex-husbands on the same day.
Incident in Manatee County
On Wednesday afternoon, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a shooting in the Heritage Harbor neighborhood. Deputies arrived to find a 54-year-old man with two gunshot wounds, one to the abdomen. Sheriff Rick Wells told reporters in a Thursday press conference that the victim was still alert and speaking to them.
When the man was asked who could have done this, he answered, “possibly my ex-wife.” The victim’s 15-year-old daughter, who was also Susan Erica Avalon’s daughter, was present at the home. She heard the shots, looked out the window, and spotted someone wearing a gray sweatshirt and a mask getting into a silver Honda Odyssey and driving off.
Wells emphasized the trauma of the teenager, saying, “I want you to understand how traumatized she is.” The 54-year-old man was transported to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries that night. Before dying, he told authorities he had been shot after answering the door to his home.
Authorities believe Avalon arrived at the victim’s house posing as a food delivery driver.
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 involved in child-custody and child-support disputes.
Investigation into Second Ex-Husband
Later on Wednesday, investigators located Avalon in her Citrus County home. 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 replied, “which one?”
Investigators then turned their attention to Avalon’s second ex-husband, who lived in Tampa. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Tampa Police Department, which confirmed that the second ex-husband had been shot and killed in his home.
In a Thursday news release, Tampa police said the incident was related to “an ongoing homicide investigation being conducted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.” The release added, “Investigators are working to determine a motive, but it’s believed the shooter and victim are known to one another.”
Authorities believe Avalon first went to Tampa to kill her second ex-husband before heading to Manatee County to shoot her first ex-husband, Wells said.
Arrest and Legal Status
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.
Key Takeaways
- Susan Erica Avalon, 51, was arrested for second-degree homicide after shooting two ex-husbands in separate homes.
- The first victim, a 54-year-old man, died Wednesday night in a local hospital.
- The second victim was found dead in his Tampa home, with investigations underway to determine motive.
The case highlights a complex web of personal disputes, a rapid investigative response, and an ongoing search for evidence in a high-profile homicide investigation.
