Police: Kentucky Man Shoots 2 Relatives, Himself In Florida

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

POLK CITY (CBSMiami/AP) — A holiday-time tragedy took place in Central Florida this week.

Authorities say a Kentucky man shot two relatives he was visiting in Florida before turning the gun on himself.

In a statement Sunday, Polk County Sheriff's Office spokesman Brian Bruchey said deputies found two men dead and one woman injured at a Polk City home Saturday evening.

Bruchey said Carolyn Stipe of Danville, Kentucky, identified the shooter as her husband, 68-year-old Rickie Gene Stipe.

Stipe told deputies her husband shot their nephew, 65-year-old James Hanks, and Hanks' wife, 59-year-old Kathleen Hanks, before shooting himself.

According to Bruchey's statement, Stipe said her husband refused treatment for schizophrenia.

She told authorities her husband had been upset throughout the day, and he shot the other couple after James Hanks confronted him.

Bruchey said Kathleen Hanks was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, and Stipe was hospitalized with chest pains.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.