EAST PALATKA, Fla. – Three people were shot to death Wednesday evening outside Corky Bell's Seafood restaurant in East Palatka in what the Putnam County Sheriff's Office called a double murder-suicide.
The victims were found dead in the parking lot of the restaurant after several people reported hearing shots just before 7 p.m. An employee heard three shots, then a pause before two more shots rang out.
The family members told News4Jax that Johny Kemp Jr. shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, Deitra Burley, and her boyfriend, Travis Hall, then turned the gun on himself.
The family said Burley had five children.
"She has five kids, beautiful kids," said victim's aunt,Queen McGee.? "My heart is really hurting because I love my niece I saw her all the time she's just a wonderful person. I just can't believe I'm in shock, I was on my way to church tonight and that's how I found out."
Burley's uncle said their family has dealt with tragedy lately and this is another blow.
"This is really taking a big impact on the family right now. We had like three other deaths that occurred sometime, like my nephews and stuff got shot several times and my brother got killed, tasered and stuff like that," said Anthony Hodges.
A witness told News4Jax she heard popping sounds as she and her friends were heading to their cars.
"I thought it was fireworks, my friends said, 'No, that's gunfire.' I said, 'Hide! Get behind cover, go somewhere," said Wendy Beeson.
Beeson said after she and her friends hid, she heard more popping.
"I heard another pop, pop, pop, pop ... a different caliber of gun and a different sound and heard a man calling 'help help help' so I called 911," said Beeson.
Corky Bell's was on lockdown while deputies investigated. Part of U.S. 17 was also closed in this area for hours.
The Sheriff's Office didn't know if the people involved were dining at the restaurant before the shooting.
Misty Bell Blevins, general manager of Corky Bell's Seafood, released a statement Wednesday evening:
"We would first like to thank everyone for their continued support and prayers during this tragedy. Charles "Corky" Bell, his wife Betty, his family, and all of the crew at Corky Bell's Seafood of East Palatka are praying for the families, friends and loved ones involved. This dreadful incident occurred outside of our establishment, and is a completely isolated event not involving any employees or patrons."
