VERO BEACH − Veteran Indian River County employees Danny Ooley and Stacie Mason appeared to have struck up a romantic relationship perhaps a month ago, Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey said March 25.
The two were married to separate people, and Mason’s husband, Jesse Ellis, 64, appears to have fatally shot them the morning of March 24 with a rifle in a parking lot near the Indian River County Main Library as Mason and Ooley were in the latter’s Ford pickup.
“This was a situation of a crime of passion, two individuals that were apparently seeing each other for a period of time,” Currey said. “And one husband being upset about it and potentially committing the crime that was committed.”
Currey spoke at the Vero Beach Police Department March 25 as the investigation into the shooting — and the search for the accused gunman, who may have swam into the ocean — continues.
Ooley, 56, a nearly 25-year employee with the county, rose through the ranks of public works “to Assistant Director through experience, leadership and commitment to service,” according to a written statement from County Administrator John Titkanich and County Commission Chair Deryl Loar.
Mason, 49, served since 2014, and worked most recently as a traffic analyst technician.
Loar described Ooley and Mason as “dedicated loyal employees to the agency.”
“On behalf of Indian River County, first and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to not only the county, but specifically our over 900 associate coworkers with Danny and Stacie,” Loar said. “Our goal is to comfort them, offer them any type of counseling that may be needed whatsoever.”
What happened?
Law enforcement officers responded about 7 a.m. March 24 to reports of gunfire at the main library, which is not far from the Vero Beach Police Department.
After the shooting, Currey said it appears Ellis may have traveled to the barrier island and swam about 900 yards — more than a half mile — into the ocean north of the South Beach Park area.
“He had left the scene on foot,” Currey said. “Obviously he had parked his truck somewhere, left and went to South Beach.”
Currey said a woman notified authorities about 8 a.m. indicating what she described as an older man who entered the ocean.
Indian River County Fire Rescue officials put a boat in the water and talked to the man, according to Currey.
“From our understanding, they … spoke to him, and determined that he was in a safe scenario,” Currey said. “He gave them a name, but it wasn’t that name.”
Asked whether fire rescue officials offered the man a ride back to shore, Currey said he thought they did.
“I don’t think he was interested,” Currey said.
Currey said investigators are searching the beach area.
Ellis’ Ford pickup was located at the South Beach Park area.
“Could he have drowned? Potentially, yes,” Currey said. “Could he have come back out of the water? Potentially yes.”
‘Very nice and sweet’
Currey said it appears Mason and Ellis were in the process of separating or divorcing, and their home was being prepared to be sold.
At what is believed to be Mason’s house west of U.S. 1 in southern Indian River County on March 25, no one answered the door. An American flag flew from a pole in front of the single-story residence.
Neighbor Pandora Wilson, 65, described Mason as “very, very nice and sweet.”
Wilson said Mason bothered no one.
“She always be with her husband,” Wilson said. “They worked, and it’s shocking to me.”
Wilson said Mason was never angry.
“You always see her with a smile on her face,” Wilson said.
Surveillance video
Currey said investigators got surveillance footage, saying it “captured the suspect approaching the victims, opening fire on the vehicle.”
Currey said investigators determined Ooley got to the parking lot, backing his Ford Ranger into a parking space. Mason, he said, pulled up in a sport utility vehicle.
“She got out of her vehicle, walked around to the passenger side of the Ford Ranger,” Currey said. “Got into the vehicle with Mr. Ooley and then shortly thereafter we see a suspect.”
Currey said what is believed to be Ellis fired into the pickup’s driver’s side before walking to the passenger side and firing again. Currey declined to estimate a number of shots, only saying “multiple” rounds were fired.
Investigators recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene believed to have been used. Currey said .223-caliber cartridges were found.
He said Ellis appears to have “obtained some professional services” along the lines of a private investigator.
“He had information of some things that were taking place,” Currey said.
Asked why Mason and Ooley were meeting near the library, Currey said, “Both individuals are married, right? They’re meeting to see each other and such.”
Loar said the county still is healing from the loss of Indian River County Sheriff’s Sgt. Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, a 25-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, following a Nov. 21, 2025 shooting.
Sweeting-Mashkow, 47; Deputy Tino Arizpe; and Sgt. Gary Farless went to a home on Governors Way to serve an eviction of 37-year-old Michael Halberstam. Locksmith David Long, 76, also was there, having been hired by Halberstam’s mother, Sheriff Eric Flowers has said.
Flowers has said Halberstam fired “indiscriminately.” Sweeting-Mashkow and Long were fatally shot.
Halberstam died after being shot by deputies.
“We have seen how our community can heal, very close-knit community,” Loar said.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida ‘crime of passion’ shooting leaves two dead
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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