BRADENTON (FOX 13) - Manatee County deputies said a husband fatally shot his wife before shooting her daughter and killing himself after their daughter's third birthday party.
On Sunday, around 10 p.m., deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said they responded to the area of 11600 block of Griffith Terrace in Bradenton. The suspect, James Bennett, was arguing with his wife, 35-year-old Silvana Bennett, according to the agency.
His mother overheard the verbal dispute in another part of the home, then heard several gunshots.
“Somewhere in that argument things got very heated and he turned around and shot and killed her," said sheriff’s office spokesman Randy Warren
Bennett’s mother entered the room to find him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, deputies said. Silvana and her 16-year-old daughter, Andrea Barberena-Rojas, had at least one gunshot wound.
"He appeared to fire shots at the 16-year-old girl as she tried to get away," Warren said.
When deputies arrived, they said, the couple had already died. First responders said Andrea had a heartbeat, but succumbed to her wounds.
The suspect's mother and their youngest child who were in the home at the time were not injured.
"This could have been a lot worse and thank God they were able to get out," added Warren.