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
Pilot with 'ideological motive' steals small aircraft and disrupts major international airport operations

Pilot Driven by Beliefs Hijacks Small Plane and Causes Major Airport Disruption

A security breach involving a stolen plane caused significant disruption at Vancouver…
The solar tax credit is ending: What that means for homeowners

What Homeowners Need to Know Before the Solar Tax Credit Ends

(NerdWallet) – President Donald Trump’s signing of the “big, beautiful bill” on…
ICE arrests illegal immigrant accused of decapitating Illinois woman after judge set him free

ICE Detains Undocumented Immigrant Charged with Decapitating Illinois Woman After Release by Judge

Immigration authorities in Chicago have apprehended a Mexican illegal immigrant who is…
Alleged squatters move next-door to Illinois state Rep. Marcus Evans in Avalon Park, Chicago: 'Going to be calling the governor'

Squatters Allegedly Relocate Next to Illinois State Rep. Marcus Evans in Avalon Park, Chicago: ‘I’ll Be Reaching Out to the Governor’

CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 Chicago I-Team is hearing from yet another…
Florida attorney general identifies wrongful charges under halted immigration law

Florida Attorney General Discovers Erroneous Charges Linked to Suspended Immigration Law

In late May, St. Johns County deputies arrested two men more than…
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters takes to Canal Street for crime prevention walk

Sheriff T.K. Waters Leads Crime Prevention Walk on Canal Street in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s crime prevention walks are part of an ongoing…
Gwyneth Paltrow felt 'sad' when Brad Pitt married Jennifer Aniston, relished when pals said he had 'terrible taste'

Gwyneth Paltrow ‘saddened’ by Brad Pitt’s marriage to Jennifer Aniston, enjoyed friends’ comments on his ‘poor taste’

In Amy Odell’s new book “Gwyneth: The Biography,” it is revealed that…
Trump Won’t Recommend Special Prosecutor for Epstein Matter, White House Says

Trump Declines to Advocate for an Independent Prosecutor Regarding Epstein Documents

The White House says President Donald Trump won’t push for a special…
Trump administration seeks release of Epstein grand jury records but not Justice Department files

Trump Administration Requests Epstein Grand Jury Records but Excludes Justice Department Files

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under significant pressure from President Donald Trump’s own allies,…
Walking this many steps more per minute can help you age better

Increase Your Step Count per Minute for Better Aging Benefits

Want to stay strong in your golden years? It might be time…
Regional powers clash after Israel targets Syrian territory in defense of vulnerable Druze civilians

Regional Tensions Escalate After Israeli Strikes in Syria to Protect at-risk Druze Community

Fox News’ chief foreign correspondent, Trey Yingst, reports from the border between…
In-N-Out heiress Lynsi Snyder reveals she's moving family out of California as company expands east

In-N-Out Heiress Lynsi Snyder Announces Move Out of California as Business Expands Eastward

In-N-Out of here! Billionaire Lynsi Snyder, heir to the In-N-Out Burger fortune,…