Manhunt Continues for Husband in Vero Beach Library Parking Lot Killings

VERO BEACH — A 64-year-old man suspected of gunning down his wife and her colleague in the back parking lot of the Indian River County Main Library remained at large Wednesday, nearly 36 hours after the shooting, as law enforcement searched the waters off Riomar Beach by boat and drone.

Jesse Scott Ellis is suspected of killing Stacie Ellis Mason, a traffic analyst technician for Indian River County Public Works, and Danny Ooley, the department's assistant director, at approximately 7 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the library at 1600 21st Street in Vero Beach.

Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey said surveillance video showed Ooley arrive first in a Ford Ranger. Mason pulled up shortly after in an SUV and got into Ooley's passenger seat. Ellis then appeared on camera approaching the vehicle.

"The library was a location (where the victims) apparently met before, and they met again there yesterday morning, and Mr. Ellis apparently was aware of that," Currey said at a Wednesday news conference.

Ellis fired multiple rounds from a long gun described as similar to an AR-15 into the Ford Ranger, killing both occupants. The weapon was recovered at the scene.

Currey said Ellis and Mason had been married 13 years and were in the process of separating. Their home was being prepared for sale. Ooley, also a married man, had been in what Currey called "essentially an affair" with Mason, apparently ongoing for several weeks to a month.

"This was a targeted marital issue that went terribly, terribly wrong," Currey said, calling the killings a "crime of passion."

After the shooting, Ellis drove to South Beach Park, abandoned his 2022 Ford F-150, walked into the Atlantic Ocean fully clothed and swam an estimated 900 yards offshore. First responders, not yet knowing who he was, reached him by boat near the Riomar Country Club area. He gave rescuers a false name and was left in the water after crews determined he was not in immediate distress — a decision likely to draw scrutiny.

Witness Carol Hughes, who was walking Riomar Beach at sunrise, said she unknowingly photographed a man swimming far out in the ocean and later contacted investigators after seeing news reports. Police said multiple firearms were recovered during a search warrant executed at a residence connected to Ellis. According to available information,

The victims' county colleagues and community members expressed shock. Indian River County According to available information, has not publicly addressed what security or safety measures, if any, are now being reviewed for county workers.

Currey acknowledged the suspect's fate remains unknown. "Could he have drowned? Potentially, yes. Could he have come back out of the water? Potentially, yes," he said.

The case has drawn national media attention, with NBC News, Xinhua and multiple Florida broadcasters covering the story.

WHAT TO DO: Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jesse Scott Ellis should contact Vero Beach Police Department at (772) 978-4600 or Indian River County Sheriff's Office at (772) 569-6700. Do not approach Ellis, who should be considered armed and dangerous. Indian River County Emergency Management can be reached at (772) 226-4000. Residents are urged to monitor local alerts at readyirc.org.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.