Florida Executes Michael Bell for 1993 Double Murder Outside Bar
On July 15, 2025, Florida carried out the execution of Michael Bernard Bell, 54, who was convicted of fatally shooting two people outside a bar in 1993. Bell’s death marks the 26th execution in the United States this year, surpassing last year’s total with several months still remaining on the calendar.
The Crime and Conviction
In December 1993, Bell sought revenge after the fatal shooting of his brother earlier that year. Mistakenly believing that a car parked outside a liquor lounge belonged to the suspected shooter, Bell armed himself with an AK-47 and waited with two friends. When Jimmy West, Tamecka Smith, and another woman exited the bar, Bell opened fire. West died instantly, Smith succumbed to her wounds on the way to the hospital, while the third woman escaped injury.
Witnesses recounted that Bell also fired into a crowd of bystanders before fleeing. He was arrested the following year and convicted in 1995, receiving the death penalty for the murders of West and Smith. Bell was also found guilty of three additional murders dating back to 1989 and 1993.
The Execution
Bell was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke after receiving a lethal injection. Before the procedure, he thanked the officials for sparing him a life sentence. Prison officials reported Bell was alert as the drugs were administered, closing his eyes after two minutes and showing signs of labored breathing before death was declared.
Trends in U.S. Executions
With Bell’s execution, the U.S. has now exceeded last year’s number of executions, marking an uptick in state-level capital punishment activity. Florida has executed eight people so far this year, leading the nation. Texas and South Carolina follow with four each. The overall trend, however, shows a national decline from a peak of 98 executions in 1999.
John Blume, director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project, attributes this rise not to changes in public opinion or death sentence rates, but rather to gubernatorial discretion. Some state governors and attorneys general appear more determined to carry out executions, possibly influenced by federal signals, including a 2017 executive order by President Donald Trump urging prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
Legal Challenges and Final Hours
In the days before his execution, Bell’s attorneys requested a halt, citing newly discovered evidence regarding witness testimony. The state Supreme Court unanimously rejected the appeal, citing overwhelming proof of guilt. The U.S. Supreme Court denied a last-minute stay on the day of the execution.
On the morning of his execution, Bell had a final meal of omelet, bacon, home fries, and orange juice and met with a spiritual adviser. He had no other visitors.
Conclusion
Michael Bell’s execution highlights the continuing application of the death penalty in the U.S., especially in Florida, where executions have surged this year. While national numbers have generally declined over the past decades, some states continue to pursue capital punishment actively, influenced by political and judicial leadership.
