BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an apparent murder-suicide that occurred at a home on Bronson Lane in Palm Coast on Tuesday. Shortly after 2 a.m., deputies responded to a 911 call from a woman who reported that a man had entered the home armed with a gun and was actively shooting. The woman and a child escaped to a nearby residence while the shooter was still inside.
As deputies approached, the shooter, identified as Jerome Curry, 34, of Palm Coast, exited the residence and, within seconds, shot himself.
Deputies immediately secured the firearm and then made entry into the home, where they located the body of Andrew Yoder, 28, of Palm Coast. Yoder, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, was pronounced deceased on scene.
Curry, the killer, was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead from his self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On August 13, 2026, twelve days prior to the shooting, deputies took Curry into protected custody under the Baker Act after he made statements of self-harm from a recent relationship breakup that had occurred in April 2026. He was transported to a Baker Act facility for a mental health evaluation. Since 2023, deputies had numerous encounters with Curry, most being civil and verbal disputes, which did not result in criminal charges.
On the night of the shooting, deputies were previously called to the same residence around 11:43 p.m. for a reported trespassing after Curry entered the home uninvited then left in a vehicle prior to the arrival of deputies. Deputies searched the area, surrounding neighborhoods, and Curry’s apartment but were unable to locate him.
Curry later returned to the residence, burglarized the home, and shot Yoder. He then took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when confronted by deputies as he was exiting the home.
Curry has no criminal history.
“Our prayers go out to the families affected by this shooting, which resulted in the senseless death of two people. This is a horrific and tragic incident for everyone involved. Being angry or in a mental health crisis does not give anyone the right to take someone else’s life,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “After a series of violent domestic incidents last week, I had just emphasized that domestic violence has no place in our community must stop before it escalates and results in a death like we sadly saw early this morning. It’s well known that high risk for violence persists long after the initial relationship split. There is an elevated risk for increased violence up to two years following the break-up.”
The Family Life Center, Flagler County’s certified domestic violence center, answers a confidential 24-hour helpline at 386-437-3505 and provides emergency shelter, advocacy, and help filing an injunction for protection at no cost. FCSO Victim Services can be reached at 386-586-4849, and the Emergency Communications Center can be reached at 386-313-4911 for anything short of an emergency. In an emergency, call 911.
Help is available in Flagler County for anyone in crisis, and no one is alone. If you are feeling suicidal or overwhelmed, you can get help by contacting Flagler Cares at 386-319-9483, SMA Healthcare at 800-539-4228, or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org.
“Asking for help is not weakness. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or in a domestic violence situation, there are resources available, and I encourage you to use those resources,” added Sheriff Staly.
