The murder-suicide deal of an elderly Florida couple ended Saturday with a shooting and hostage situation at a Daytona Beach hospital.
Police said they arrested a 76-year-old woman after she killed her terminally ill 77-year-old husband at a Daytona Beach, Florida, hospital on Saturday as part of a murder-suicide pact the couple made weeks ago. before. The event created a shooting alarm at the hospital.
The victim was identified as Jerry Gilland, 77, and his wife was confirmed to be the shooter, Ellen Gilland, 76. No one else was injured in the incident.
The woman could be charged with first degree murder.
“Apparently, because he was terminally ill, they had a discussion about it, and actually planned this about three weeks ago, if he continued to get worse,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said at a news conference. . “He wanted her to get this over with.”
Authorities received an alert about the shooting on the 11th floor of Advent Health in Daytona Beach around 11:45 a.m. m. of Saturday.
Press release regarding the Advent Health incident. pic.twitter.com/QHoFqgGhGq
— Daytona Beach Police (@DaytonaBchPD) January 21, 2023
After the 76-year-old woman shot her 77-year-old husband in the head, police said, hostage negotiators spoke with the woman. They talked to her until 3:00 p.m. m., when they were able to stop her after using a flashbang to distract her.
Authorities said they don’t know how the woman was able to bring a gun to the hospital. The police chief said she did not threaten hospital staff or other patients.
During negotiations, authorities learned that the original plan would involve the husband shooting himself and his wife, whom Young described as “in a depressive state.” However, the wife took over after they realized he was too weak to do it himself.
“Initially, I think the plan was a murder-suicide,” Young said. “So she killed him and was going to shoot herself, but she couldn’t do it.”
Authorities partially evacuated other patients on the 11th floor, which is usually reserved for cases of terminal illness. The woman will be transported to the Volusia County Jail in Daytona Beach.
Young told reporters that incidents like this are unfortunately common, particularly during the holiday season.
“It’s a tragic circumstance,” Young said. “It just goes to show that none of us is immune to the trials and tribulations of life.”