Authorities in Vero Beach, Florida are searching for Jesse Scott Ellis, 64, who is suspected of fatally shooting his wife, Stacie Ellis Mason, and Danny Ooley, 56, in the parking lot of the Indian River County Main Library on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 [1]. Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey stated that surveillance footage showed Mason and Ooley, both Indian River County government employees, arriving separately before Mason entered Ooley’s car. Ellis then arrived and fired multiple shots into the vehicle with an automatic weapon [1].
Police believe the incident was a 'targeted marital issue,' as Mason and Ooley were allegedly having an affair, though Ooley's mother, Mary Ooley, denied this claim, stating her son was not cheating and that they were meeting for a job-related reason [1]. Ellis and Mason had been married for 13 years, were potentially separating or divorcing, and preparing to sell their house, according to Currey [1]. Ellis was reportedly undergoing 'professional services' in the weeks leading up to the shooting, though details were not provided [1].
After the shooting, Ellis abandoned his car at South Beach Park and swam about 900 yards offshore. Rescue personnel approached him by boat but did not know he was a suspect and Ellis provided a different name. Authorities are now searching for Ellis by boat, and it is possible he drowned, according to Currey [1].
Family members expressed grief and shock, with Kristi Ellis, one of Ellis’ daughters, stating, 'I just lost my parents. I have no family.' Ooley's wife was not available for comment, and his mother denied the affair allegations [1].
CONCLUSION
The fatal shooting in Vero Beach has prompted an ongoing search for the suspect, Jesse Scott Ellis, with authorities considering the possibility that he may have drowned. The incident, described as a crime of passion, has deeply affected the families involved and raised questions about the circumstances leading up to the event. No market-moving implications or broader financial impacts were discussed in the article.