Investigators say the suspect is also tied to a second killing in Tampa the same day.
BRADENTON, Fla. — A Citrus County woman was arrested Wednesday night after a man was shot at his Bradenton front door in what deputies called a targeted attack earlier that afternoon. Detectives tracked a vehicle across the Sunshine Skyway and took the woman into custody hours later.
Authorities say the case quickly widened into a two-county homicide investigation. Manatee County detectives allege the woman, identified as Susan Avalon, 51, shot a 54-year-old former husband shortly before 3 p.m. on Chatum Light Run. Tampa police then found another former husband dead inside a home in the city later the same day. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office says it has charged Avalon in the Bradenton killing and will work with prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Tampa police are coordinating with Manatee detectives as they determine additional charges.
Deputies said the Bradenton shooting unfolded just before 3 p.m. Wednesday when a person knocked at the victim’s door holding a bag of food. When the 54-year-old opened the door, he was shot and later died. His 15-year-old daughter was inside the home and told investigators she heard three gunshots and saw a silver Honda Odyssey leaving the neighborhood. Sheriff Rick Wells said the victim was able to speak to deputies before he died and indicated the shooter might be his ex-wife. “It doesn’t get any more brazen than this,” Wells said. “This was a planned, targeted attack in the middle of the afternoon.”
Investigators said surveillance video from a nearby Panera Bread showed a woman taking food and leaving without paying shortly before the shooting. Detectives believe the food was used as a ruse to get the door open. License-plate readers and witness statements helped detectives identify Avalon’s vehicle, according to the sheriff. Deputies said they tracked the Odyssey over the Sunshine Skyway toward Citrus County, where Avalon lives. When detectives arrived at her home, they reported seeing her walking outside with bleach and rags and wiping down a vehicle before contact was made. Investigators also noted that when detectives told Avalon they needed to speak with her about her ex-husband, she reportedly answered, “Which one?”
Officials said the Manatee victim and Avalon were married for 11 years and had an ongoing family case; Wells said she owed about $4,000 in child support. Detectives believe Avalon first went to Tampa, where a former husband was found shot inside a home on East Frierson Avenue, and then drove to Bradenton. The sheriff’s office did not release the Tampa victim’s name pending notification of relatives. Investigators said a witness description, vehicle records and security footage formed the core of the probable cause. The exact number of shots fired at each scene was not released. Authorities said the teenager in the Bradenton home did not see the shooter but gave details about the vehicle and clothing.
The Bradenton neighborhood sits east of Interstate 75 near Lakewood Ranch, a busy, master-planned community where afternoon school traffic is heavy. Deputies described the timing as “brazen,” noting kids were returning home as the shots were fired. Manatee County has seen high-profile domestic cases in recent years, and authorities emphasized the cross-county coordination now underway. Tampa detectives performed a welfare check at the Hillsborough address after Manatee investigators flagged the connection; they forced entry and found the victim inside with apparent gunshot wounds. Officials said they are still building a precise timeline of Avalon’s movements and are reviewing digital and traffic camera records.
In Manatee County, Avalon is charged with first-degree homicide. She was booked after Wednesday’s arrest and is expected to make an initial court appearance soon, where a judge will consider whether to hold her without bond. The sheriff said his office will work with the State Attorney’s Office to seek the death penalty in the Bradenton case. In Tampa, police said their investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. Authorities plan to release more information after next-of-kin notifications and autopsies. A press briefing is anticipated once lab reports and ballistics comparisons are complete.
Neighbors described a tense, confusing scene as patrol cars flooded the area. One resident said she saw cruisers racing into the subdivision minutes after school buses rolled through. “We heard sirens and then learned someone had been shot just around the corner,” said a woman who declined to give her full name, citing safety concerns. Wells said the 15-year-old is receiving support services. “She’s traumatized,” the sheriff said. “But her quick description of the vehicle helped detectives move fast.” Deputies also credited store employees who provided surveillance video to investigators the same day.
As of Friday morning, Avalon remained jailed while detectives in Manatee and Tampa continued to compare evidence and finalize timelines. Officials said the next expected milestone is a first appearance hearing in Manatee County and an update from Tampa police on potential charges there.
Author note: Last updated December 19, 2025.