Police and neighbors trying to figure out why man shot wife

SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) - Police say she had a restraining order against her estranged husband, but it didn't stop him from shooting her. Seminole County Investigators are still trying to piece together what went down in the Lake Forest subdivision in Sanford Saturday night when officials say Gary Adams arrived at the home of his estranged wife and tried to force his way in.

According to Seminole County Sheriff's Office Adams left, then came back, exchanging gun fire with deputies before shooting his wife and barricading himself inside the home.  That's where deputies found him dead a hours later. Investigators were back out at the house Sunday looking for information amid a busted front door and busted windows.

Neighbors who were evacuated and kept out of their homes during the ordeal are still trying to make sense of it all. One neighbor said the suspect, Gary Adams was a nice guy and she can't imagine what would have led to all of this.

Investigators say Adams' estranged wife told them she filed a restraining order against her husband, but it had not yet been served. Police haven't said why but we asked domestic violence agency Harbor House CEO Carol Wick about the possibilities.

"The really tough thing is if someone goes and gets the injunction they get the temporary then the battered or the alleged battered hides and they cant be served. That makes it difficult because it doesn't really make it valid until they've been served," said Wick.

Detectives say Gary Adams had no history of arrests and there were no reports of domestic violence. Investigators haven't said what made Adams snap or even if serving Adams with the restraining order would have protected his estranged wife.

"Its only as good as one persons respect for the law so if they've made the decision to kill somebody an injunction is not going to stop them," said Wick.

That's not to say you shouldn't file an order of protection if you need one. Wick says besides filing court documents you will need a safety plan.

If you see this person on the street, in the grocery store, they are stalking you or if they come to your home you need to have a plan in place for what to do to keep yourself and your children safe, said Wick.

Investigators say Adams estranged wife was treated for non life threatening injuries.

Wick says she is really lucky to walk away from this type of incident.