Police: Man shot, killed by ex as he broke into her apartment

Police say woman questioned, released had been domestic violence victim

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Michael Turner on photo of police responding to Club At Town Center Apartments.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man found shot to death Wednesday morning inside an apartment off St. Johns Bluff Road South had been trying to break into his ex-girlfriend's apartment when she shot him, police said.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Michael Turner, 33, broke a window at the Club At Town Center Apartments and came into the apartment of a woman he knew, and she shot him multiple times with a handgun.

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Police said the woman has been a victim of domestic violence in the past. They took her in for questioning and released her. 

News4Jax found that Turner was arrested on a felony domestic strangulation charge last year when police said he strangled his then girlfriend and punched her several times until she lost consciousness. The charges were dropped the next month.

The woman in that incident was the same woman police said shot Turner on Wednesday. News4Jax is not naming her because she was a victim of domestic violence.

Police said they received a call that multiple shots were fired just before 6 a.m.

When officers arrived to building 1100, they found Turner dead in the apartment. They said he appeared to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Turner's death was the 12th domestic-related homicide in Jacksonville this year.

Leaders with Hubbard House, an anti-domestic abuse organization, said unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about women in abusive relationships.

"People assume that if the woman will just leave, everything's going to be OK, and that isn't always the case," Hubbard House CEO Ellen Siler said. "There's ongoing stalking and ongoing threats, so if you're going to leave, it's important for you to have a plan to safely leave, which Hubbard House can help you with."

If you or anyone you know is in an abusive relationship and needs help, call Hubbard House's 24/7 hotline at 800-500-1119. You can remain anonymous.