Monday night in Edgewater, Florida, a disgruntled ex-boyfriend broke into a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, murdering his love rival and briefly holding his ex-girlfriend hostage before shooting her and turning the pistol on himself.
According to Mahoney, Quinton Francis Hunter, 49, who had served time for illegal gunrunning and weapons possession, disrupted an addiction recovery support group meeting held behind 515 North Ridgewood Avenue at about 7 p.m. and instantly murdered Ian Greenfield, 59.
While the other guests exited the venue, Hunter, 49, also known as “Rags” on the street, who authorities claimed was upset that Greenfield was the new guy in 33-year-old Erica Hoffman’s life, held her hostage.
Hoffman and Greenfield were supporting one another through drug rehabilitation; Greenfield’s brother said that he had battled drug addiction for years.
Edgewater police surrounded the structure and made attempts to reason with the insane guy, but they also maintained a SWAT unit close by.
Hunter began a Facebook live stream while he was besieged inside the building, according to the police chief, but said nothing.
Hoffman and Greenfield, according to the police, were both already deceased at that time.
Mahoney added, “We tried to get in touch with the suspect to negotiate, but it was fruitless.”
The shooting had already been completed when the special tactical squad arrived.
The chief said, “We broke into the building and discovered three dead, including the suspect.”
After the murder-suicide, pictures and video from news sources showed a large black tactical truck parked at the rear of the building.
The backdoor was on the parking lot, and the entryway was littered with pieces of cider brick that had been torn out.
During the confrontation at the “Bridge the Gap” gathering on North Ridgewood Avenue, Hoffman and Greenfield were slain.
Mahoney said, “At this moment, we consider this to be a domestic issue and there is no more threat to the public.”
Police claim that Hunter and Hoffman formerly had a romantic connection.
According to Fox 35, Greenfield and Hoffman were acquaintances, but it’s unclear if they were romantically involved.
Men and women who battle addiction may attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings on a regular basis to share their stories and support one another in staying drug-free.
The gunshot occurred in the front office, which is rented by Bridging the Gap, a social services support group, according to Eric Lancaster, who described the violence as “extremely rare.”
There has never been anything quite like this.
There has never been any violence there during their two years of renting the property, he claimed. We don’t invade their space, and they don’t invade ours.
A working-class community with a population of 23,097, Edgewater is located approximately 20 miles south of Daytona Beach, Florida.