Widow sues over husband's slaying

By ANGELA MOORE

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2000

TAMPA -- The widow of a Countryway man shot to death after breaking up a neighborhood fight among children is suing the man charged with the killing and two others.

Nora Carroll Wells, 38, was left with two young daughters to raise after her husband, Jemale, was killed Sept. 10 in a confrontation in front of their home.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday in Hillsborough Circuit Court asks for compensatory and punitive damages from Randolph Puryear, 40, a dentist charged with second-degree murder; Puryear's girlfriend, Sherri Toney, 37; and Brian A. Pieniazek Jr., a friend of Puryear's authorities say was present during the confrontation. According to Hillsborough sheriff's officials, Toney confronted Wells at his home on Fox Creek Drive after Wells, who is black, broke up a fight involving Toney's 12-year-old son. Deputies said Toney, who is white, used a racial slur. She called her boyfriend, Puryear, and told him Wells had attacked her, a claim neighbors dispute.

Puryear drove to Wells' house and got out of the car shouting racial obscenities and waving a .357-caliber handgun, deputies said. With his friend Pieniazek following, Puryear attacked Wells, deputies said. Authorities say the gun went off during a struggle. Wells was fatally shot in the abdomen.

The lawsuit claims that the negligence of Toney and Puryear led to Wells' death, and that the actions of Puryear and Pieniazek caused his death. Florida law allows the estate of Jemale Wells, his wife, Nora, his 9-year-old daughter and his 5-year-old daughter to each recover monetary damages for the loss of his financial support and for the loss of companionship.

The lawsuit requests a jury trial.

Wells declined to comment. Her attorney, Linnes Finney Jr. of Fort Pierce, could not be reached Tuesday night.

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