A 76-year-old woman who allegedly fatally shot her terminally ill husband has been charged with first-degree murder, reports The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Ellen Gilland, who allegedly carried out the shooting at AdventHealth hospital in Daytona Beach on Saturday morning, was also charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She is currently being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said it is believed Ellen and her 77-year-old husband planned the shooting "approximately three weeks ago."
Jerry reportedly intended to pull the trigger himself, but "did not have the strength" and so she had to "carry it out for him."
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari E. Young said Gilland had planned to turn the gun on herself after ending her husband's life as part of a murder-suicide, but "she couldn't go through with it."
He added: "Apparently because he was terminally ill, they had a conversation about it and they actually planned this approximately three weeks ago that if he continued to take a turn for the worst that he wanted her to end this.
"Obviously, we're unsure how she brought that gun into the hospital, but this was planned."
A police report released on Monday stated that authorities spoke with three witnesses who said they had seen Gilland behind her husband's bed as she pointed the gun at the door.
According to Young, Gilland did not threaten to open fire on anyone else, however, she refused to put the weapon down when officers arrived at the scene.
"It's a tragic circumstance because it just shows that none of us are immune from the trials and tribulations of life," Young added. "Even after the initial shooting, she never tried to get up and leave, so everything was confined to the room."
The widow reportedly kept the .38 revolver pointed at the door as she talked with police outside. Police were at the scene for around three and a half hours.
The police report states that at about 3:00 PM, SWAT teams deployed a flash-bang distraction device into the room. Upon entering the room, police tased Gilland, who then fired her gun, shooting the ceiling.
Gilland then dropped the gun and "SWAT members detained the defendant without further incident," according to the report.
Young said it was unclear how Gilland managed to enter the hospital with the gun.
In a statement to The News-Journal, David Breen, spokesman for AdventHealth Daytona Beach, said: "We are devastated by the tragedy that unfolded at the AdventHealth Daytona Beach campus today, and our prayers are with those impacted.
Breen added: "We are grateful for the Daytona Beach Police Department in helping ensure the safety of our patients, team members and visitors."
He said AdventHealth would not provide any further comment at this time "as the case remains an active police investigation."
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