Nassau County husband shot in head by wife after Google search, deputies say

STORY: Sugar daddy gives St. Johns County woman bounced check

A prominent Florida businessman was shot in the head by his wife in a Fernandina Beach home during an argument, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office said.

The victim, 58-year-old Tony Brown, was nominated by President George W. Bush for a position within the U.S. Treasury Department in 2001. WPTV in Palm Beach reported that Brown is a former Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency director.

Tony Brown was shot in the head by his wife, 57-year-old Lawanda Brown, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office said. She is being held on $500,000 bail in the Nassau County Jail.

Couple worked from home; victim is former Bank of America executive

Brown told authorities she and her husband have a consulting business and use the loft of their home as an office.

Before receiving the appointment, Mr. Brown served as a Senior Vice President for Bank of America in Jacksonville from 1990 to 2001. Mr. Brown's tenure at Bank of America included a number of senior management positions in community development.

She said while the pair were in the office, her husband asked her to search on Google for a template for a project they were working on.

Brown said while searching, she said the tone in her husband's voice did not seem happy.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., deputies arrived at the couple's home in the 95500 block of Burney Road in Fernandina Beach and found Brown on the floor in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Her husband was airlifted to UF Health Hospital in Jacksonville with critical injuries, NCSO deputies said, but his condition has been upgraded to serious.

He is able to talk and communicate, authorities said.

A .38 caliber handgun was found in a bedroom in the home. His wife told deputies that the events surrounding the shooting were a "blur."

Man who knew couple: “I saw nothing leading up to this." 

Michael Couey said he has been working for the Browns for years, and never noticed any red flags.

"I would never expect this," Couey said.  "I'm kind of blown away about it right now."

"I've been working here every day, pretty much," he added.  "I saw nothing leading up to this…No fighting, no nothing of the sort, nothing that would come to this."

STORY: Duval school employee arrested for exposing sex organs, DUI, resisting arrest 

After conducting an investigation and speaking with Lawanda Brown, deputies arrested her for attempted murder and was taken to the Nassau County Jail.

Brown's consulting website says that his company, T. Brown Consulting Group, "helps communities, businesses, governments and lenders devise capital solutions for community development, real estate and small business initiatives across the country."

Cox Media Group