1 Dead, 1 Critical In Florida Murder/Suicide

"Havana, FL - By Tuesday afternoon, violent-crimes investigator Scott Ivey was worn out – both emotionally and physically.

"Ivey and other investigators with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office had been up most of the night trying to sort out the tragic details of an attempted homicide and suicide he said has devastated the small community of Havana.

"Sheriff's deputies arrived at Sheila Bell's home on Ames Barineau Road just after 1 a.m. Tuesday to find Sheila lying on the lawn with a gunshot wound on her right shoulder. Her estranged husband, Seward Bell Jr., was in the yard about 30 feet away, with a gunshot wound to the head and a rifle and revolver lying next to him, according to a sheriff's office report.

"Sheila said her husband had shot her. He was unresponsive and breathing irregularly, according to the report.

"Both were transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where Seward was pronounced dead at about 2:30 a.m. Sheila was in critical condition.

"Ivey said the Bells were recently separated and were not living together but co-owned The Corner Bar on Highway 27 just south of Havana.

"`I can't tell you what he was thinking, obviously, but it ended in tragedy, that's for sure,` Ivey said. `These were very likeable people. It's a shock to the community.`

"Ivey said some follow-up interviews will be conducted but that no criminal charges will be filed because the suspect, Seward, is dead."

Source: tallahassee.com...