Florida woman, 76, shot dead her 77-year-old terminally ill husband after barricading herself in Daytona Beach hospital room in a murder-suicide plot and faces first-degree murder charges
- Ellen Gilland shot and killed her terminally ill husband, Jerry, in a murder-suicide plot
- Unable to turn the gun on herself, she remained locked in the room
- She could face first-degree murder charges over the shooting
A woman fatally shot her terminally ill husband at a Florida hospital on Saturday, then barricaded herself in his room for four hours before surrendering in an ultimately failed murder-suicide.
Ellen Gilland, 76, told officers her husband, Jerry Gilland, 77, had been ill for some time and they planned the shooting together, police spokeswoman Carrie McCallister said.
After shooting her husband around 11:30 a.m., she refused to come out until about 3:30 p.m. after negotiating with police, McCallister said.
It was later revealed that Gilland had planned to turn the gun on herself in a homicide-suicide, but “she couldn’t pull it off,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari E. Young said.
Police officers wait outside after a woman fatally shot her terminally ill husband at a Florida hospital on Saturday and then barricaded herself in his room for four hours before surrendering in what was ultimately a failed murder-suicide
“Apparently because he was terminally ill they had a conversation about it and they actually planned this about three weeks ago that if he continued to take a turn for the worse, he wanted her to end this,” Young said. “Obviously we’re not sure how she got that gun to the hospital, but that was planned.”
McCallister said no charges were immediately announced, but she was taken to a local jail on Saturday afternoon as Young acknowledged Ellen Gilland could face first-degree murder charges.
Young said the plan was that Jerry Gilland originally wanted to shoot himself but didn’t have the strength.
“It’s a tragic circumstance because it just goes to show that none of us are immune to the trials and tribulations of life,” Young added.
Ellen Gilland was not injured and no one was hurt.
“Even after the first few shoots, she never tried to get up and walk, so everything was limited to the space,” Young said. “At no point were hospital staff or other patients threatened.”
Part of the hospital was evacuated and some doctors, nurses and others took shelter in locked cabinets and rooms.
It was later revealed that Gilland had planned to turn the gun on herself in a murder-suicide assassination attempt, but “she couldn’t pull it off,” said Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari E. Young (pictured).
A police spokesman said no charges were immediately announced, but she was taken to a local jail on Saturday afternoon as Young admitted Ellen Gilland could face first-degree murder charges
Young said the plan was that Jerry Gilland originally wanted to shoot himself but didn’t have the strength
It was a “logistical nightmare” to evacuate the patients on the ground, who are all on ventilators.
According to the New York Times, police were eventually able to secure Gilland by distracting her with a flash gun and bean bag gun.
“She’s very sad,” Young said. “It’s obviously a… it’s a difficult situation,” noting that Gilland had become depressed because her husband was terminally ill.
AdventHealth officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The hospital has resumed normal operations, police said.