Florida man who killed 2 people outside a bar is scheduled to be executed
Share this @internewscast.com

A man who shot and killed a couple outside a Florida bar in a failed revenge plot awaits execution on Tuesday in Starke, Fla.

Michael Bernard Bell, 54, is set for lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke unless a last-minute reprieve is granted. Convicted in 1995 for the murders of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith, Bell received a death sentence.

Bell’s execution will be the eighth in Florida this year, with another planned before the month’s end. The state executed six individuals in 2023, while only one execution occurred the previous 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 this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
How to combat 'Ozempic mouth' and 'Ozempic teeth': dentist

Dentist’s Guide to Addressing ‘Ozempic Mouth’ and ‘Ozempic Teeth’ Issues

Buccal up! GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro can lead to…
B-1B Lancer bomber over Edwards Air Force Base.

Could the JASSM Missile Encourage a Path to Peace Between the US and Russia?

DONALD Trump could send Ukraine a set of incredibly powerful cruise missiles…
Love him or hate him —there's never been a president like Donald Trump

Whether you admire or dislike him, Donald Trump is a truly unique president in history.

Leader of the pack Trump. Who may go down in history as…
Immigration agents demand tenant information from landlords, stirring questions and confusion

Immigration Officials Request Tenant Details from Landlords, Raising Uncertainty and Concerns

ATLANTA (AP) — Immigration officials are requesting that landlords provide them with…
Teen run over by a truck while sunbathing on the beach

Teenager Struck by Truck During Beach Sunbathing Session

The driver of a pickup truck allegedly ran over the legs of…
Emmy Nominations 2025 announced: List of nominees

2025 Emmy Nominees Revealed: See Who Made the List

This year’s nominees stand to gain from the lack of competition from…
Texas flood survivors look for God in the face of tragedy

Texas Flood Survivors Seek Faith Amidst Tragedy

After witnessing their homes become unrecognizable due to severe flooding earlier this…
Massachusetts assisted-living blaze kills a musician, secretary, and veteran Army sharpshooter

Tragic Massachusetts Assisted-Living Fire Claims Lives of Musician, Secretary, and Veteran Army Sharpshooter

Gabriel House had seen better days. The 100-unit assisted-living facility that caught…
NJ flash flooding kills at least 2 after surging waters sweep up vehicle

At Least 2 Dead in NJ After Flash Flooding Sweeps Away Vehicle

At least two individuals lost their lives in New Jersey when flash…
Drone surveillance catches kids in dangerous high-speed stunt atop moving subway train in New York City

Drone Captures Risky High-Speed Stunt by Kids on New York City’s Moving Subway Train

Four young individuals, including one 12-year-old, were caught by police after being…
2026 midterms: US Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi releases 1st TV ad of campaign ahead of Democratic primary election

Raja Krishnamoorthi Unveils First TV Ad for 2026 US Senate Bid Ahead of Democratic Primary

CHICAGO (WLS) — The first television ad has hit the airway in…
Russian Officials Smugly Dismiss Trump's 'Theatrical Ultimatum' on Ukraine Ceasefire Deal

Russian Officials Brush Off Trump’s Ultimatum on Ukraine Ceasefire as Theatrics

“Russia didn’t care.” These were the remarks of Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy…