Authorities in Florida said a woman was allegedly gunned down by her husband after he refused to sign divorce paperwork she had filed. Per WESH 2, the fatal March 25 incident occurred at a residence in Orange County.
The victim, identified as 42-year-old Takeshia Eads, is said to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities said her husband, Lamar Bryant, 41, allegedly opened fire on her in the bathroom of the residence.
The fatal incident came after Bryant was arrested in connection with two different March incidents. He was, however, released on bond before the shooting.
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An arrest affidavit stated that after the shooting, an individual called 911 and said, “My son-in-law shot my daughter!” Court documents also stated that Eads’ daughters were at home when her husband opened fire on her.
Investigators claimed that prior to the fatal incident, Bryant had gone to their daughter’s school to pick her up, adding that he subsequently passed by a liquor store before drinking and driving.
The suspect is said to have then gone to a storage unit. His daughter informed investigators that Bryant had been leaving drugs and guns in that storage unit. She also said that after her father returned to the car, he “removed two firearms from his pockets and placed them on the center console.”
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Authorities said Bryant then made his way to the home, adding that Eads was on the porch when her husband arrived. The victim then went to the bathroom, and Bryant followed her indoors, WESH 2 reported. Authorities said that witnesses later heard multiple gunshots.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Bryant is said to have exited the home. One of the victim’s daughters also asked the suspect what was going on, to which he replied saying, “nothing.” Bryant subsequently left.
The fatal incident is said to have occurred after Eads served Bryant with divorce paperwork. He, however, declined to sign.
“That whole loss of control for the abuser is when the violence escalates,” Michelle Sperzel, the CEO of Harbor House of Central Florida, which is a domestic violence shelter and resource, told the news outlet.
Sperzel also said that though domestic violence affects 1 out of 3 women and 1 out of 4 men, victims can still get help. “We’re here, and we want to help people,” Sperzel said.
“We always talk to survivors about if you feel it, do something about it because you are right. Don’t second-guess yourself. Don’t explain it away … it’s saying this isn’t right, and I need to do something different for me and for the kids.”
Bryant is in custody, and he has been denied bond. “She touched a lot of people, and she touched a lot of lives, so she was a good woman,” one of Eads’ daughters said.
