Bio

Billy Hurley was born in 1925. By January 2001, at age 75, he lived in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife, Billie T. Hurley, 73. Their daughter, Veda J. Crockett, 53, and her husband, Clayton E. Crockett, 51, lived next door to them on Arques Road, across from Normandy Elementary School.

According to neighbors, Hurley's family had confided that he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and had become increasingly violent in the period before the shootings, but the family had not reported this to police, and there were no prior domestic complaints on record. A nephew, Greg Hurley, said he had visited his uncle in October 2000 and noticed no unusual behavior at the time, describing him as "fine" then and stating that whatever affected him had evidently developed over the following months. 

Jacksonville police stated it was premature to attribute the violence specifically to Alzheimer's disease, noting they were awaiting confirmation of any medical condition from his physician, Alzheimer's specialists interviewed after the incident noted that violent behavior in Alzheimer's patients is rare, though not unheard of, particularly in connection with distress following diagnosis or as a reaction to fear, confusion, or agitation.

Murder Story

On the evening of January 11, 2001, Billy Hurley was at or near the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Jacksonville, Florida. Reports state that he first shot his son-in-law, 51-year-old Clayton E. Crockett. After that shooting, Hurley chased his daughter, 53-year-old Veda J. Crockett, and his wife, 73-year-old Billie T. Hurley, outside the home.

Once outside, Hurley shot and killed his daughter. He then chased his wife toward the area of Normandy Elementary School, which was located across from the family homes. Students were outside for an after-school program at the time, but no students were injured.

A U.S. Senate hearing transcript later referenced the 911 call from the incident. The caller described a man outside shooting people near the school area. During the call, the caller reported hearing additional shots and said the man was holding a gun near his mouth. The same hearing identified the case as one in which a man with dementia killed his daughter, son-in-law, and wife before shooting himself.

Hurley shot his wife near the school grounds and then turned the gun on himself. The incident ended as a murder-suicide. Police said the shooting stunned the Jacksonville community, but they did not immediately identify a confirmed motive.

After the killings, investigators and reporters examined whether dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may have played a role. Neighbors said Hurley’s family had spoken about possible Alzheimer’s symptoms and increasing violence, but law enforcement officials warned against reaching that conclusion without medical confirmation. Alzheimer’s and geriatric mental-health experts interviewed after the killings said violence by people with dementia is rare and can have several medical or psychiatric causes.