Wife Shot By Husband In Publix Murder-Suicide

ORLANDO, Fla.,None — A man shot and killed his estranged wife in a busy Publix store late Tuesday night before killing himself. WFTV learned Wednesday the killer had a violent history.

Orange County investigators said the grocery store cashier was fatally shot when her estranged husband waited in the checkout line and shot her. The woman who was shot was identified as 34-year-old Anicia Yankton. She died at the hospital Wednesday morning.

Eyewitness News learned that the shooter was her estranged husband, 62-year-old Andreau Yankton. They were not divorced, but lived separately.

INTERVIEW: WFTV Employee Describes Incident AT THE SCENE: Images After Shooting

WFTV found out that two of Andreau Yankton's ex-wives had filed for injunctions against him. He murdered his current wife Tuesday night inside one of Central Florida's busiest Publix stores on Orange Avenue near Michigan Street ( see map ) and then killed himself.

FIXED double anicia and andreau yankton 030310 Anicia and Andreau Yankton One eyewitness told WFTV that, after he shot Anicia, Andreau Yankton walked out of Publix looking like he was in a daze, holding his hands up as if he were carrying a pizza. Then the eyewitness noticed that Andreau Yankton was holding a gun. Before the witness could call 911, he saw police approach Yankton and saw Andreau shoot himself.

Orlando police said that Andreau decided to end the marriage his way. They say he waited in Anicia's check out line at Publix and then suddenly opened fire on her and she slipped into unconsciousness immediately.

Eyewitnesses said terrified shoppers dropped their groceries and ran when they heard gunfire ring out inside the grocery store. One eyewitness said there were about 50 customers inside.

Channel 9 employee Roger Docking was shopping inside when Andreau pulled the trigger. Docking said (full interview) he and a small group of customers ran out of a cargo door in the back of the store.

"I kind of stopped and waited, heard someone scream and decided it was time to go," Docking said.

Brian Furst, who is a paramedic, rushed to her aid, as did workers in the in-store clinic. Emergency responders arrived and transported the victim to Orlando Regional Medical Center where she later died.

"The cashier lady was lying on the ground motionless. Someone shot her," Furst said. "She bled all over the floor. I had to wash my hands off after trying to help her."

One of the victim's friends said Anicia met Andreau in the Philippines and that he was very controlling. She complained he treated her as if she were a child, even giving her a curfew.

The friend says he brought Anicia to the U.S.A. then she left him and moved in with a new boyfriend, who also works at Publix. Her friend said that Anicia has only worked there for three months.

Her friend also said they had a child together, who is now 5 years old and still in the Philippines.

More than one dozen employees talked to grief counselors who were available at Publix Wednesday.

"The focus now becomes our associates and their family members," Publix spokesperson Maria Brous said.

Orlando police officers were patrolling the store and parking lot Wednesday and through the night to make sure everyone feels safe.

Police said there was no record of a violent history between Anicia and Andreau, but court records show Andreau has been accused of domestic violence by two of his ex-wives. One of them got a permanent injunction against him 13 years ago. He was also charged with misdemeanor battery in 1996, but the charge was dropped.

Records show Andreau Yankton also had financial problems and problems with alcohol and driving under the influence.

Andreau does have children from a previous marriage, but WFTV was not able to reach any of his relatives or his ex-wives for comment.

Publix security video recorded the shooting, but police are not releasing that or any other records in the case Wednesday. As of late Wednesday afternoon, autopsy results have not been released.

There have been several murder-suicides in Central Florida in the past year. Last month, an Orange County woman was murdered by her stalker. Roger Troy shot and killed Alissa Blanton outside of her workplace then killed himself.

Last June, J.D. Wood murdered his wife, two children and then killed himself in their Heathrow home.

Researchers at the University of South Florida believe the bad economy has contributed to a rise in murder-suicides in Florida and across the nation.

WFTV