Woman killed in murder suicide was a retired Charlotte County school district teacher

A woman killed by her husband Wednesday morning was a retired Charlotte County Schools teacher.

Susan Harris, who lived on Great Falls Terrace in Port Charlotte, was shot and killed by Allyn Harry Harris, 70, as she sat in the driver’s side of a vehicle parked at the couple’s home.

Allyn Harry Harris, who was naked, then went back into his home where he died by suicide. The murder-suicide resulted in Charlotte County deputies surrounding the home for hours as they attempted to coax the septuagenarian to come outside.

Charlotte County Public Schools told WINK News Susan Harris retired from the school district a few years ago. Neighbors of the couple say she mostly worked at Liberty Elementary School in Charlotte County.

The investigation into the murder-suicide continues on Thursday.

Deputies were still assessing the scene. A screen door was busted down and windows were forced open.

At around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, a neighbor, who asked to not be identified, said they heard a”boom, boom, boom.”

The man said he was awakened by the shots and believed it to be fireworks. He went back to sleep but was once again awoken by the sounds of a helicopter.

Carla Smith, a neighbor, said she saw the woman arrive at around the time Smith was headed for a doctor’s appointment.

“Whatever happened was shortly after I left so that was probably a good thing that I didn’t leave late,” Smith said.

Deputies had to get her son out of the house when they arrived, she said.

The law enforcement presence is unusual in a neighborhood Smith said is usually safe and filled with retirees.