Michael Bernard Bell execution: Man who killed Jimmy West, Tamecka Smith to be executed by lethal injection at FL State Prison
Share this @internewscast.com

STARKE, Fla. — A man who shot and killed two people outside a Florida bar during a failed revenge attempt is set to be executed on Tuesday.

Michael Bernard Bell, 54, is slated to undergo lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, unless a last-minute reprieve occurs. In 1995, he was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith.

If carried out, Bell would be the eighth individual executed in Florida this year, with another execution planned for later this month. The state executed six people in 2023, with only one execution taking place 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.

This undated provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Michael Bell, who is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

This undated provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Michael Bell, who is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Florida Department of Corrections via AP

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
CTU, IFT union news: Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates elected to lead Illinois Federation of Teachers

Stacy Davis Gates Elected to Lead Illinois Federation of Teachers, Strengthening Union Leadership Across Chicago

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates has been appointed as the…
78-year-old man missing in Oregon may have fallen in hole; police ask for help

Urgent Search: Oregon Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing 78-Year-Old Man Feared Fallen in Hole

In a bid to locate a missing elderly resident, Oregon authorities are…
Israel strikes Gaza after it says Hamas attacked across ceasefire line

Israel Launches Retaliatory Strikes on Gaza Following Alleged Hamas Ceasefire Breach

Israel launched strikes on targets in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday…
Trump immigration crackdown may eliminate 15M workers by 2035: Study

Study Projects Potential Loss of 15 Million Workers by 2035 Under Trump Immigration Policies

According to a newly released study, President Trump’s immigration policies are projected…
Halloween 2025: Mariano's shares spooky Halloween recipes to help you become the ghostest with the mostest

Spooktacular Halloween 2025: Mariano’s Unveils Creative Recipes to Elevate Your Festive Feast

CHICAGO (WLS) — The countdown to Halloween is on, with less than…
Amazon Prime offers holiday gas deal: How to redeem the perk

Unlock Amazon Prime’s Exclusive Holiday Gas Discount: Step-by-Step Guide to Redeem Your Savings

Amazon is bringing some relief to its Prime members with a special…
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Alex Murdaugh's money man, Charles Manson's cult, 'Smiley Face' killer theory

The Untold Story of Alex Murdaugh: Greed and Corruption Topple a Lowcountry Legal Dynasty

The dramatic saga of Alex Murdaugh, a once-respected legal figure from South…
'Dr. Antifa' fled US after doxxing, but infamous handbook promotes tactic and violence against 'Far Right'

Controversial ‘Dr. Antifa’ Escapes USA Amid Backlash Over Handbook Encouraging Tactics Against Far-Right

Dr. Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor colloquially known as “Dr. Antifa,”…
NFL Week 8 odds, picks

Week 8 NFL Predictions: Expert Odds and Top Picks

Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission…
State Department warns Hamas may violate ceasefire with attack on Palestinian civilians

State Department Alerts: Potential Ceasefire Breach by Hamas Threatens Palestinian Civilians

On Saturday, the U.S. Department of State issued a warning about “credible…
M.C.I. Foods recalls 91,585 pounds of burritos for Listeria risk

Urgent Recall: M.C.I. Foods Pulls 91,585 Pounds of Burritos Due to Listeria Contamination Risk

The recall affects three distinct brands: El Mas Fino, Los Cabos, and…
Photos of Eitan Levi, Uriel Baruch, and Tamir Nimrodi over photo of Israeli flag

IDF Discovers Anomalies: Hamas Returns Unidentified Body, Sparking Mystery Among Hostage Families

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that one of the…