BRADENTON, Fla. — A Citrus County woman was arrested Wednesday night after being accused of shooting and killing one ex-husband, and potentially another, Manatee County Sheriff’s officials said.
Detectives arrested 51-year-old Susan Avalon at her home in Citrus County after the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said she allegedly shot and killed a 54-year-old man who answered the door at his home on Chatum Light Run in Bradenton earlier that day.
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said that deputies were able to speak with the man before he died and told them the shooter was possibly his ex-wife.
Wells also said the man’s 15-year-old daughter was inside the house at the time of the shooting and told deputies she heard gunshots and saw a silver Honda Odyssey driving off.
After detectives matched the description to Avalon’s vehicle, they went to her home and said they needed to talk about her about the death of her ex-husband. Officers said she allegedly replied, “Which one?”
The investigation expanded into Hillsborough County after MCSO asked the Tampa Police Department to conduct a welfare check at a home in the 1200 block of East Frierson Avenue.
Officers reported finding an adult male dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside the home.
Tampa Police officials said they are working with MCSO in the ongoing investigation. Wells said the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office charged Avalon with second-degree homicide. The Tampa Police Department has not yet announced any charges connected with the case in its jurisdiction.
Wells said his department planned to seek the death penalty in its case against Avalon.
Watch the full press conference from Manatee Sheriff Rick Wells below: