Five people were killed in two murder-suicide events in just 24 hours this week, forcing Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson on Wednesday to urge community members to reach out if they find themselves in a domestic violence situation.
The first call to dispatchers came in after 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. A woman was on the phone with dispatchers when her boyfriend shot her, then turned the gun on himself at a home on Majestic Palm Street in Pace, Johnson said. The couple previously had a domestic dispute that resulted in physical injury to the woman in May 2024, but she dropped all charges against her attacker. She did not have an active domestic violence restraining order against her attacker when she was killed.
About 18 hours later, at a home on Cypress Point Circle in Navarre, Johnson said a 52-year-old man fatally shot his parents before turning the gun on himself. A family member discovered her parents shot in the dining room and her brother, who lived with their parents nearby, also shot.
Child injured in murder-suicide: SRSO: Garcon Point father shot wife multiple times in murder-suicide in front of children
“We really need to get the word out that you can get help if you’re in a domestic violence situation and you feel like it’s hopeless,” Johnson said. “We can break the cycle if you let us. If we get a call, we can help.”
Johnson said none of the people killed this week were on the department’s radar.
The two murder-suicides followed another murder-suicide in the county on October 25 at a home on Meadow Wood Lane where a man killed his girlfriend before committing suicide. The couple were found by a concerned colleague who went to the house when she couldn’t reach them.
OSSR: Man and woman dead after murder-suicide in Navarre home
On June 9, there was another murder-suicide when Michael Delmar, 41, shot his wife Katie before killing himself while their three children were in the house.
One of the three children – aged 13, 8 and 4 – was hospitalized after being hit by a bullet. Law enforcement said at the time that the child suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Bob Johnson advocates being aware of how to get help when needed
At the press conference, Johnson said it may be urgent to contact authorities if you are a victim of abuse, even if the violence is not physical.
“For the love of God, please call if you feel like you are in a domestic violence situation,” Johnson said. “When I talk about domestic violence, I’m not just talking about getting beaten up. There are other forms of domestic violence.”
Even if you’re afraid of repercussions if you try to get help, Johnson warned victims that if you don’t contact them, the situation could “get worse.”
“Please reach out to us because we will help you break this cycle,” Johnson said.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, help is available. You can reach the Florida Domestic Abuse Hotline at 800-500-1119 or the Florida Domestic Abuse Hotline at 800-962-2873. You can also reach the SRSO Victim Advocate Supervisor at 850-983-1145. If you need shelter, you can reach the Favor House domestic violence shelter at 850-626-5600.
This article was originally published in the Pensacola News Journal: Santa Rosa murder-suicides leave 5 dead in 24 hours
