STARKE, Fla. — A person who fatally shot a person and lady exterior a Florida bar as a part of an tried revenge killing is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, which might be the twenty sixth execution carried out within the U.S. this 12 months.
To date, 25 males have been executed in 2025, tying the variety of executions in 2024 and 2018. In 2015, there have been 28 executions within the U.S.
Michael Bernard Bell, 54, is scheduled to obtain a deadly injection at Florida State Jail close to Starke, barring a last-day reprieve.
He was convicted in 1995 and sentenced to demise for the murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith.
Bell could be the eighth particular person put to demise in Florida this 12 months, with a ninth scheduled for later this month.
The state executed six folks in 2023, however carried out solely one execution final 12 months.
Florida has executed extra folks than every other state this 12 months, whereas Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with 4 every. Alabama has executed three folks, Oklahoma has killed two, and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee every have killed one.
In December 1993, Bell noticed what he thought was the automotive of the person who fatally shot his brother earlier that 12 months, in response to court docket data.
Bell was apparently unaware that the person had offered the automotive to West.
Bell known as on two buddies and armed himself with an AK-47 rifle, authorities mentioned. They discovered the automotive parked exterior a liquor lounge and waited.
When West, Smith and one other lady ultimately exited the membership, Bell approached the automotive and opened fireplace, officers mentioned.
West died on the scene, and Smith died on the best way to the hospital.
The opposite lady escaped damage.
Witnesses mentioned Bell additionally fired at a crowd of onlookers earlier than fleeing the world. He was ultimately arrested the subsequent 12 months.
Bell was later convicted of three further murders.
He fatally shot a lady and her toddler son in 1989, and he killed his mom’s boyfriend about 4 months earlier than the assault on West and Smith, officers mentioned.
Attorneys for Bell have filed appeals with the Florida Supreme Courtroom and the U.S. Supreme Courtroom.
The legal professionals argued of their state submitting that Bell’s execution needs to be halted due to newly found proof about witness testimony.
However justices unanimously rejected the argument final week and pointed to overwhelming proof of Bell’s guilt in a 54-page opinion.
Bell’s attorneys filed the same petition with the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on Thursday, however the panel has not but issued a ruling.
