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Florida woman, 76, fatally shot her terminally ill husband of 77 years after barricading herself inside a Daytona Beach hospital room in a planned killing; suicide faces a first-degree murder charge
- Ellen Gilland shot her terminally ill husband Jerry in a planned murder-suicide
- She was unable to shoot herself and was locked in the room.
- She could face first-degree murder charges in the shooting
A woman fatally shot her terminally ill husband inside a Florida hospital on Saturday and then barricaded herself in her bedroom for four hours before surrendering in a murder-suicide that ultimately failed.
Ellen Gilland, 76, told officers that her husband Jerry Gilland, 77, had been ill for some time and that they had planned the shooting together, police spokeswoman Carrie McCallister said.
After shooting her husband around 11:30 a.m., she refused to come out until 3:30 p.m. after negotiating with police, McCallister said.
Later, it was revealed that Gilland had planned to turn the gun on himself in a murder-suicide, but “couldn’t do it,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari E. Young said.
Cops wait outside after a woman fatally shot her terminally ill husband inside a Florida hospital on Saturday and then barricaded herself in their room for four hours before surrendering in a murder-suicide that ultimately failed.
“Apparently, because he was terminally ill, they had a conversation about it and they actually planned this about three weeks ago, if he continued to get worse, he wanted her to be done with it,” Young said. “Obviously, we’re not sure how she got that gun into the hospital, but this was planned.”
McCallister said no charges were immediately announced, but she was taken to a local jail Saturday afternoon as Young acknowledged that Ellen Gilland could face a first-degree murder charge.
Young said the plan was that Jerry Gilland was originally going to shoot himself but he didn’t have the strength.
“This is a tragic circumstance because it shows that none of us is immune to the trials and tribulations of life,” Young added.
Ellen Gilland did not harm herself and no one else was hurt.
“Even after the initial shooting, she never tried to get up and leave, so everything was confined to the room,” Young said. “At no time did she threaten any member of the hospital staff or any other patient.”
Part of the hospital was evacuated and some doctors, nurses and others took refuge in locked cabinets and rooms.
Later, it was revealed that Gilland had planned to turn the gun on himself in a murder-suicide, but “couldn’t do it,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari E. Young (pictured) said.
A police spokesman said no charges were immediately announced, but she was taken to a local jail Saturday afternoon as Young acknowledged that Ellen Gilland could face a first-degree murder charge.
Young said the plan was that Jerry Gilland was originally going to shoot himself but he didn’t have the strength.
It was a ‘logistical nightmare’ to evacuate the patients on the floor, all of whom are on ventilators.
Police were eventually able to secure Gilland by distracting her with a flash-bang device and a bean bag gun, according to the New York Times.
“She’s very sad,” Young said. “Obviously, this is a… this is a difficult situation,” and she noted that Gilland had become depressed because her husband was terminally ill.
AdventHealth officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Police said the hospital has resumed normal operations.