Family shares memory of grandmother following double homicide at Jacaranda Trail Apartments

ARCADIA, Fla. —

Madalyn Brown says her grandmother, Barbara Bates, was a friendly soul and guiding light.

"I feel like because of her, I am more compassionate, more understanding. She was my last living grandparent," Brown said.

Arcadia police say they found one woman dead around 9 a.m. at the Jacaranda Trail Apartments in Arcadia after reports of a shooting. Police say four hours later, they were alerted to a second body in another building. Both were shot several times, according to police.

One of the women killed was Bates.

"She would have lived for much longer, had this not happened," Brown said. "And that's what I expected. I expected to have a lot more time."

APD arrested Eric Robinson, 45, who they say was in the area. Police say the shootings stemmed from a domestic incident, but have not shared how the suspect knows the victims.

"Domestic violence needs to be taken seriously. Not only for the women going through it, but the bystanders that, unfortunately, become collateral damage. I feel like the other young woman that passed yesterday should not have had to go out that way. The man that did this needs to pay for what he did," Brown said.

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