Husband fatally shoots wife at Clearwater Beach resort, kills himself, police say

CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - Police said a murder-suicide occurred at Shephard's Beach Resort on Clearwater Beach after two bodies were found inside a second-floor guest room on Tuesday afternoon.

Clearwater police identified the bodies as 55-year-old Jeffrey Scott Little and 50-year-old Melissa Sue Little of New Port Richey. Investigators said preliminary evidence shows that Jeffrey fatally shot Melissa before killing himself.

Police said they lived in a home on Reef Drive in New Port Richey, and the couple checked into the hotel the day prior to the shooting.

While the motive for the shooting was not clear, mental health experts urged anyone with suicidal thoughts to reach out before acting.

"Anybody who is struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts you can feel very isolated," said Clara Reynolds, the CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, which fields upwards of 200 suicide calls per week. "We would like to reach out to all of those individuals right now who are listening and watching and tell them they do not have to face this crisis alone. We're available at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- by calling 211."