Edgewater police arrest suspected gunman, fiancée after 3 shot, 1 killed in the woods

EDGEWATER, Fla. — Edgewater police say they’ve arrested the man who shot three people, killing one, in a wooded area Thursday night.

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7:30 p.m. update:

Just before 7:30 p.m. Friday, Edgewater police announced the arrests of 45-year-old Walter Russell and his fiancée, 42-year-old Laura Carter in connection to the shooting.

Police identified Russell as the shooter and said one of the victims had been in a dispute with him before the shooting happened.

Russell was taken into custody Friday afternoon to be charged with multiple felonies including first-degree murder. Carter was charged with principle to first-degree murder.

The investigation is ongoing, as detectives say they’re still conducting search warrants in connection with the case.

Edgewater police continue to urge anyone with information on the case to call them at 386-424-2000.

10:50 a.m. update:

Police released new details Friday on the deadly shooting that happened Thursday night.

Officers said three people were shot around 9:30 p.m. in the woods near the 1500 block of Juniper Drive.

Police said John Ellis, 39, died from his injuries. 22-year-old Amanda Cormier-Cambell and 41-year-old Frank Matott were also shot and taken to a hospital for treatment.

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Investigators said the shooting happened at a make-shift transient camp located north of the dead end of Juniper Drive north of 15th Street.

Police also released information on a suspected gunman and the vehicle he was driving.

Officers said they are looking for a white man in his 30s or 40s with a muscular build and a red beard.

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Police said he was last seen driving a white Jeep with a neon green front bumper, hard top, over-sized tires, possible Texas license plate and loud exhaust.

Investigators said the shooting was not a random incident.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Edgewater police at 386-424-2000.

Previous report:

Police said three people were shot — one fatally — Thursday night in Edgewater.

Around 9:30 p.m., officers responded to the 1500 block of Juniper Drive and said they found three shooting victims in a wooded area north of that location.

One victim died at the scene and two others were treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Edgewater Police Department.

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Police said while their homicide investigation was just getting underway, they believed the shooting was an isolated incident and that there was “no imminent danger to the public.”

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Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Edgewater Police Department at 386-424-2000.

Channel 9 was near the crime scene early Friday morning and reporter Q McCray continues to monitor developments in this case.

Stay with WFTV.com and watch his live updates on Eyewitness News beginning at 5 a.m.

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