A 13-year-old Florida boy was able to escape with his life as his father ran through their house shooting family members in a murder-suicide shooting that left four dead. Police say Troy Ryan Bellar killed his wife, two youngest children and tried to shoot Nathan Bellar before shooting himself in his Lakeland front yard."His entire family is gone," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd of the surviving teen.
Nathan told investigators that his dad and his stepmother were arguing on Sunday when he saw his father shoot his stepmother as she tried to leave and take her two younger sons to their grandparents' home.
Nathan began running from the house as he heard his dad shoot his two other sons. Troy Bellar then began to chase Nathan into the family's cluttered garage to try and shoot the teen, but he tripped over a bicycle and Nathan escaped to a neighbor's house.
Neighbors Surprised by Violence
As Nathan escaped, Troy Bellar shot himself on the front lawn.
Killed were Wendy Bellar (pictured), 31, and her 5-month-old son, Zack James Bellar, and her 8-year-old son, Ryan Patrick Bellar. She had the younger boy in a car seat headed out the front door of the house when she was shot on the front porch.
Police said the couple had argued in the past and both had arrest records. Wendy Bellar was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery in a recent case that was still pending. Troy Bellar was convicted in 1994 for petty theft and in 1999 for driving under the influence.
However, neighbors said the couple gave no indication that there were problems and one neighbor said he saw them sitting outside together earlier Sunday evening. "Troy and Wendy were good, good neighbors," Doug Lane said. "Fortunate to know them. Just an awful shock."
See Also:
Teen Escapes as Fla. Dad Kills Family, Self
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