22 January 2023 , 15:24
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A 76-year-old woman shot dead her terminally-ill husband then barricaded herself in his hospital room after a failed murder-suicide.
Ellen Gilland, 76, from Florida, US, and her husband Jerry Gilland had been planning the shooting at Daytona Beach hospital, Florida, US, after the 77-year-old had been ill for a considerable amount of time, according to police.
She shot her husband at around 11.30am but stayed in the hospital room for a further four hours and didn't come out until 3.30pm after negotiating with officers.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari E. Young said Gilland had planned to turn the gun on herself in 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.
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The incident happened at Daytona Beach hospital in Florida (Fox 5 Atlanta)"Obviously, we're unsure how she brought that gun into the hospital, but this was planned."
Police spokeswoman Carrie McCallister said, although no charges were immediately announced, Gilland could face a first-degree murder charge after she was taken to a local jail on Saturday afternoon.
The terminally ill Jerry was going to shoot himself but did not have the strength, according to authorities.
"It's a tragic circumstance because it just shows that none of us are immune from the trials and tribulations of life", Police Chief Young said.
Police were able to get Gilland out from the room after four hours (Fox 5 Atlanta)Gilland did not injure herself and no one else was wounded.
"Even after the initial shooting, she never tried to get up and leave, so everything was confined to the room,'" Young said.
"'At no time were any of the hospital staff threatened, or any other patients."
Parts of the hospital had to be evacuated but this was difficult, according to cops, as the patients were terminally ill and were wired up.
It was a "logistical nightmare" to evacuate the patients as all of whom were on ventilators, police said.
Daytona Beach police chief Jakari Young called the incident "tragic" (Fox 5 Atlanta)Gilland was eventually released after officers distracted her with a flash-bang device and a bean bag gun.
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The widow, who was depressed after her husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness, is said to be extremely upset.
Young said: "'She's very sad. This is obviously a... it's a tough situation."
The hospital was able to resume normal operations after Gilland surrendered, officials confirmed.