Plant City, Florida — Authorities have revealed the circumstances behind a devastating family shooting that left three people dead across two locations in May, including a grandmother and two of her young grandchildren.
The Plant City Police Department said investigators spent months examining the evidence before determining that Hailey Megan Dempsey, 28, killed her mother, Valerie DeBoe, 55, and two of her own children before fatally shooting herself.
The case also involved a remarkable survivor: Dempsey’s 2-year-old daughter, who was found physically unharmed after the shootings.
Grandmother and Two Children Found Dead
Police said the killings occurred during the early morning hours of May 3. DeBoe was found dead at a residence after investigators determined she had been fatally shot inside the home.
The investigation later revealed that Hailey left the residence on foot with her three children. Authorities said she then concealed herself and the children behind bushes and trees in the front yard of another location.
It was there, police said, that the violence continued. Authorities determined that Hailey fatally shot 4-year-old Belle Dempsey and 4-month-old Kelsey Dempsey.
She also reportedly fired at her 2-year-old daughter but missed. The toddler survived and was found physically unharmed.
Mother Later Dies From Self-Inflicted Gunshot
After shooting her children, Hailey reportedly turned the gun on herself. She was initially found alive and taken to a hospital but was later pronounced dead, according to authorities.
The investigation ultimately concluded that she was responsible for the deaths of her mother and two children.
Police released the findings in an update on Thursday, August 13, providing additional details about the sequence of events that had remained under investigation for months.
Neighbor Reported Disturbance Before Killings
Investigators also examined events that occurred in the days leading up to the shootings. A neighbor, John Czarniak, previously stated that he had witnessed disturbances at the residence where DeBoe was killed.
According to Czarniak, a disagreement at the home resulted in a 911 call two days before the murders. He also recalled seeing an individual at the scene wearing a bulletproof vest and loading a large duffel bag into a vehicle.
“We noticed him putting on a bulletproof vest and then loading a large duffel bag into the trunk of his car,” Czarniak said.
It was not immediately clear who that man was or whether authorities ultimately determined that he had any connection to the killings.
Family Remembers DeBoe as “Gigi”
Following the tragedy, relatives and loved ones remembered DeBoe for the role she played in her family’s life. According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, DeBoe was affectionately known to her grandchildren as “Gigi.”
The fundraiser described her as a devoted member of her family and community, calling her a wife, mother, grandmother, mentor and leader who was deeply loved by those around her.
The deaths of DeBoe, Belle and Kelsey left family members and the Plant City community mourning three lives lost in a tragedy that authorities have now concluded was carried out by a member of the same family.
Meanwhile, the survival of the 2-year-old girl has added another heartbreaking dimension to the case. Police said she was physically unharmed, but the circumstances surrounding the killings have left a lasting impact on those who knew the family.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case? Share your reaction and condolences for the victims in the comments below.
