Dentist murdered at office
By Linda Cressy / March 9, 1991
Edgewater dentist Norman Larelere, fleeing an unwelcome visitor is his
office Friday afternoon, was fatally wounded when the assailant fired a shotgun
blast through a closed door.
Edgewater Detective Sgt. Bill Bennett said the still unidentified attacker entered Dr. Larzelere's office at 109 W. Knapp Ave. just after 1 p.m. Dr. Larzelere ran from his office and into the waiting room, closing the door behind him. His attacker fired one shot from a shotgun through the door, hitting Larzelere in the chest just above his heart.
The dentist, 39 died while being transported to the Halifax Medical Center by the sheriff's department Air One helicopter, Bennett added. An employee in the Dr. Larzelere's office call 9-1-1.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents were on the scene Friday afternoon to assist with the investigation. Bennett said it was too early to determine a motive for the murder but said he was pretty certain Dr. Larzelere knew his attacker.
Edgewater police spokesman Alice Ball said she did not know if there were any eyewitness to the shooting, but did say somebody inside the office saw the man leave in a blue Toyota sedan bearing a white tag with green letters -- the last three numbers on the tag are 278.
"We are trying to get an update on the license tag," she added. "Someone at the scene said the plate read, 'Garden State.'"
Ball said the suspect was wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt, jeans, mask and gloves. He is described as about 5-feet-9-inches tall and weighing about 190 pounds. But she added his age or race were not known.
An all-points bulletin was issued by the department shortly after the shooting, she added.
While Bennett said the dentist's office, located a block off U.S. 1 across Knapp Avenue from SunBank, was open at the time of the shooting. Ball said one patient was in the waiting room at the time of the shooting. Also in the building were an employee and Dr. Larzeler's wife, Virginia.
Bennett said officers tried to get more information from Mrs. Larzelere, but she was understandable "very incoherent and hysterical" after the shooting.
She was transported to Fish Memorial Hospital, where spokesman Kerry Faunce said she was treated and released.