Florida man who killed 2 people outside a bar is scheduled to be executed
Share and Follow


STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man who fatally shot a man and woman outside a Florida bar as part of an attempted revenge killing is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday.

Michael Bernard Bell, 54, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, barring a last-day reprieve. He was convicted in 1995 and sentenced to death for the murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith.

Bell would be the eighth person put to death in Florida this year, with a ninth scheduled for later this month. The state executed six people in 2023, but carried out only one execution last year.

Twenty-five men have already been executed in the U.S. this year, tying last year’s total.

Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. Alabama has executed three people, Oklahoma has killed two, and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee each have killed one.

In December 1993, Bell spotted what he thought was the car of the man who fatally shot his brother earlier that year, according to court records. Bell was apparently unaware that the man had sold the car to West.

Bell called on two friends and armed himself with an AK-47 rifle, authorities said. They found the car parked outside a liquor lounge and waited. When West, Smith and another woman eventually exited the club, Bell approached the car and opened fire, officials said.

West died at the scene, and Smith died on the way to the hospital. The other woman escaped injury. Witnesses said Bell also fired at a crowd of onlookers before fleeing the area. He was eventually arrested the next year.

Bell was later convicted of three additional murders. He fatally shot a woman and her toddler son in 1989, and he killed his mother’s boyfriend about four months before the attack on West and Smith, officials said.

Attorneys for Bell have filed appeals with the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The lawyers argued in their state filing that Bell’s execution should be halted because of newly discovered evidence about witness testimony. But justices unanimously rejected the argument last week and pointed to overwhelming evidence of Bell’s guilt in a 54-page opinion.

Bell’s attorneys filed a similar petition with the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday, but the panel has not yet issued a ruling.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
How a once‐Democratic seaside town turned into MAGA stronghold

Seismic Political Shift: How a Democratic Seaside Town Transformed into a MAGA Stronghold

In 2020, a coastal city just outside Los Angeles appeared to be…
Diddy's twin daughters, 18, dress as Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders

Diddy’s Twin Daughters Stun in Iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Outfits at 18

Hours after their father, Sean “Diddy” Combs, was spotted for the first…
'Intentional' explosion on Harvard medical school campus probed by FBI, 2 people seen fleeing building: police

FBI Investigates Deliberate Explosion at Harvard Medical School: Suspects Flee Crime Scene

In the early hours of Saturday, an explosive incident at Harvard University’s…
North Carolina state Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke (left and standing), presides over the Senate Committee on Elections while it considers legislation to redraw the state

Nationwide Gerrymandering Surge: Trump Encourages GOP States as Redistricting Tactics Spread

President Donald Trump’s recent call for Republicans to redraw U.S. House districts…
Heidi Klum Halloween costume: Klum reveals Medusa costume with husband Tom Kaulitz for Halloween 2025

Heidi Klum Unveils Stunning Medusa Costume with Tom Kaulitz for Halloween 2025 Celebration

NEW YORK — Heidi Klum embraced the mythical allure of Medusa for…

Century City Family Grieves Loss of Grandmother in Tragic Hit-and-Run Incident

A memorial of white flowers now stands at the crossroads of Pico…
5 ways Halloween candies can interact with your medications

Five Surprising Interactions Between Halloween Candy and Medications You Should Know

Don’t let those sweet treats trick you this Halloween. Each year, Americans…
Trump denies reports he has decided to strike Venezuela

Trump Refutes Claims of Planned Military Action Against Venezuela

President Donald Trump has firmly dismissed claims suggesting he is planning an…