Tragic Incident: Stepfather Allegedly Kills Stepdaughter Over Manners Dispute, Say Police

A Florida man, aged 64, faces charges for allegedly murdering his stepdaughter following what began as an ordinary kitchen encounter. The tragic incident unfolded in the presence of the victim’s mother.

James Pelzer has been charged with one count of dangerous and depraved murder without premeditation in the death of Alanda Cuffee, according to court documents filed over the weekend.

As detailed in a probable cause affidavit, deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a home on the 2500 block of Gulf Breeze Avenue at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Authorities noted that Pelzer himself made the 911 call after the shooting occurred.

Upon their arrival, officers found Pelzer outside the residence, where he surrendered without resistance. During his arrest, Pelzer reportedly confessed to deputies, saying, “I messed up. I messed up bad.” He also indicated the location of the firearm, allegedly stating it was placed on top of a Bible near the front door inside the home.

Inside the house, emergency responders discovered Cuffee lying on the floor, “unconscious and unresponsive,” surrounded by a pool of blood from multiple gunshot wounds. She was declared dead at the scene.

In an interview with investigators, the victim’s mother said she was in the kitchen with her daughter when Pelzer entered and “tried to walk around Cuffee.”

“[Cuffee’s mother] stated that she then told Cuffee to move out of the way for James Pelzer, at which point Cuffee stated, ‘Well, Mama, he could say excuse me,’” investigators wrote in the affidavit. “[Cuffee’s mother] stated that James Pelzer did not respond and walked back to his bedroom. [Cuffee’s mother] stated that she observed James Pelzer walk out of the bedroom with a ‘short and black’ handgun in his hand and fired approximately four to five rounds at Cuffee.”

Sheriff Chip Simmons summed up the situation to the Pensacola News Journal as follows:

“The stepfather was ultimately charged and arrested with shooting and killing his stepdaughter. It was about movement inside the house, whether one could walk around without bumping into the other.”

Immediately after the shooting, the mother said, Pelzer did not appear to regret his actions.

“I asked [the mother] if James Pelzer had said anything before he shot Cuffee, to which she answered, ‘no,’” the affidavit states. “[Cuffee’s mother] stated that the only thing James Pelzer said was for her to ‘be quiet’ when she began to pray out loud over Cuffee.”

After allegedly stating that he had “messed up,” authorities said Pelzer refused to answer questions and requested a lawyer.

Inside the home, authorities recovered a small black Ruger .380 handgun, along with its empty magazine and a round of ammunition.

The victim’s mother also told investigators that Pelzer had a history of anger issues and had previously threatened to “use his gun” during other incidents, though she said he had never been physically violent toward her or her daughter before the shooting.

Pelzer is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 8.