PENSACOLA, FL – A 64-year-old man is facing a murder charge after deputies say he shot and killed his stepdaughter during a confrontation inside their home Sunday morning, an encounter that investigators say began with a minor dispute in the kitchen.
James Pelzer was arrested and charged with one count of dangerous and depraved murder without premeditation in the death of Alanda Cuffee, according to court records. Deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 2500 block of Gulf Breeze Avenue around 10:30 a.m. after Pelzer called 911 to report the shooting.
When deputies arrived, Pelzer was already outside and surrendered without incident. Authorities say he admitted wrongdoing shortly after being taken into custody, telling deputies, “I messed up. I messed up bad.” He also directed officers to the weapon, stating it was inside the home “sitting on top of a Bible” near the front door.
Kitchen encounter turns deadly
Inside the residence, first responders found Cuffee lying on the floor “unconscious and unresponsive” in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the victim’s mother told investigators she was in the kitchen with her daughter when Pelzer attempted to walk through the space. The moment escalated after a brief exchange.
“[Cuffee’s mother] stated that she then told Cuffee to move out of the way for James Pelzer, at which point Cuffee stated, ‘Well, Mama, he could say excuse me,'” investigators wrote. “[Cuffee’s mother] stated that James Pelzer did not respond and walked back to his bedroom.”
The affidavit states Pelzer then returned moments later armed with a handgun and opened fire.
“[Cuffee’s mother] stated that she observed James Pelzer walk out of the bedroom with a ‘short and black’ handgun in his hand and fired approximately four to five rounds at Cuffee,” investigators wrote.
Sheriff outlines sequence of events
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons described the incident as stemming from a dispute over movement inside the home.
“The stepfather was ultimately charged and arrested with shooting and killing his stepdaughter,” Simmons said. “It was about movement inside the house, whether one could walk around without bumping into the other.”
The victim’s mother told investigators that Pelzer did not speak before firing the weapon. “I asked [the mother] if James Pelzer had said anything before he shot Cuffee, to which she answered, ‘no,'” the affidavit states. “[Cuffee’s mother] stated that the only thing James Pelzer said was for her to ‘be quiet’ when she began to pray out loud over Cuffee.”
Evidence recovered, court date set
Deputies recovered a Ruger .380 handgun from inside the home, along with an empty magazine and a round of ammunition. Authorities said Pelzer stopped cooperating after initially speaking with deputies and requested an attorney.
The victim’s mother also told investigators Pelzer had a history of anger issues and had previously threatened to “use his gun” during past incidents, though she said he had not been physically violent prior to the shooting.
Pelzer remains held without bond at the Escambia County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 8.
Escambia County shooting, Pensacola homicide, James Pelzer arrest, Florida stepdaughter killing, Gulf Breeze Avenue crime