PLANT CITY, Fla. — Authorities in Plant City are conducting an intensive investigation into a devastating shooting that left four people dead, including two small children, in what officials are describing as a possible quadruple homicide. According to police, the victims include 28 year old Hailey Dempsey, her two young children — a 4 month old infant and a 4 year old child — and the children’s grandmother, identified as a 55 year old woman. All four victims died from gunshot wounds.

A third child was also found inside the residence but was unharmed. Police have identified Jay Dempsey as a person of interest in the case. Authorities confirmed he was initially detained but later released due to insufficient evidence at the time. Investigators later developed information indicating that Jay Dempsey may have been hiding in a wooded area before emerging, retrieving his deceased wife’s vehicle, and leaving the area. His current whereabouts have not been publicly confirmed.

The Discovery: A Disturbance Call Leads to Horror

The incident unfolded on May 3, 2026, when officers responded to a reported disturbance in the 300 block of West Tever Street in Plant City, Florida. Plant City is a city in Hillsborough County, located approximately 25 miles east of Tampa. It is known for its winter strawberry festival, its agricultural heritage, and its family oriented communities. West Tever Street is a residential area, a place where neighbors know each other and children play outside.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a scene of unimaginable horror. Inside the home, they found two young children deceased: a 4 month old infant and a 4 year old child. Both had died from gunshot wounds. The brutality of the killings shocked even seasoned first responders.

Hailey Dempsey, 28, was located at the scene suffering from gunshot injuries. Emergency responders rushed her to a local hospital. Doctors and nurses fought to save her life, but despite their efforts, she later died from her wounds.

As the investigation unfolded, detectives were led to a second location — the home of Hailey Dempsey’s mother. There, they found the 55 year old woman, the children’s grandmother, also dead from a gunshot wound. The grandmother’s name has not been publicly released pending family notification. She was the mother of Hailey Dempsey and the grandmother of the two young children.

A third child, whose age and gender have not been disclosed, was also found inside the residence on West Tever Street but was unharmed. That child is now in the care of relatives or protective services.

The Victims: Hailey Dempsey, 28; Her 4 Month Old Infant; Her 4 Year Old Child; and the 55 Year Old Grandmother

Hailey Dempsey was 28 years old. She was a mother of three young children. She was someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s friend. Her death is a tragedy for her family and for the Plant City community. The original article does not provide biographical details about Hailey her occupation, her hobbies, her personality. What is known is that she was a devoted mother, and she died trying to protect her children or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Her two young children — a 4 month old infant and a 4 year old — were innocent victims. The infant had barely begun to live. The 4 year old was just starting preschool, learning to play, to make friends, to explore the world. Both were taken by a gunman believed to be their father.

The grandmother, 55 years old, was likely a pillar of the family. She was the mother of Hailey and the grandmother of the children. She may have been a source of support, a caregiver, a protector. She was killed in her own home, at a second location, extending the tragedy beyond a single residence.

A third child, who was in the home on West Tever Street, survived unharmed. That child may have witnessed the killings or may have been hidden or protected. The psychological trauma will last a lifetime.

The Suspect: Jay Dempsey, Person of Interest

Police have identified Jay Dempsey as a person of interest in the case. He is the husband of Hailey Dempsey and the father of the children. He is suspected of killing his wife, his two young children, and his mother in law.

Authorities confirmed that Jay Dempsey was initially detained but later released due to insufficient evidence at the time. He was questioned and let go. Investigators did not have enough probable cause to hold him.

However, as the investigation continued, detectives developed new information. They believe that after being released, Jay Dempsey may have hidden in a wooded area. He waited for darkness. Then, under cover of night, he emerged from the woods, retrieved his deceased wife’s vehicle, and left the area. His current whereabouts have not been publicly confirmed. He may be hiding elsewhere, or he may have fled the state or the country.

The Investigation: Seeking Surveillance Footage

As part of the ongoing investigation, Plant City police are asking residents and nearby businesses to review surveillance or doorbell camera footage recorded between 5:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on May 3. Investigators are particularly interested in footage showing a woman walking with three children, which may provide critical insight into the timeline of events. This suggests that Hailey Dempsey and her children may have been seen earlier that morning, possibly before the shootings occurred. The footage could help establish when and where the victims were last seen alive, and may also show the suspect’s movements.

The Plant City Police Department is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Crime scene technicians processed both locations: the home on West Tever Street and the grandmother’s home. They collected shell casings, DNA, fingerprints, and other physical evidence. They also searched for the weapon used in the shootings.

Detectives are also interviewing neighbors, friends, and family members to understand the dynamics of the Dempsey household. Was there a history of domestic violence? Had Jay Dempsey made threats before? Were there previous calls to police? These questions will help establish a motive.

The Motive: Unclear but Under Investigation

The circumstances surrounding the shootings remain under active investigation as detectives work to determine motive and locate any individuals connected to the crime. The tragedy has left the Plant City community in shock as officials continue their search for answers.

Possible motives could include a family dispute, custody issues, mental health problems, or financial stress. The fact that Jay Dempsey allegedly killed his mother in law as well suggests a deep seated rage that extended beyond his immediate family.

The Community: Plant City in Shock

The Plant City community is reeling from the quadruple homicide. The killing of two young children and their mother and grandmother is almost too horrific to comprehend. Neighbors have placed flowers and teddy bears outside the home on West Tever Street. Churches have held prayer vigils. The city has offered counseling services to residents.

The family of Hailey Dempsey is devastated. They have lost a daughter, a sister, two grandchildren, and a mother. They are planning multiple funerals instead of celebrating milestones. The pain is immeasurable.

The third child, who survived, is now in the care of relatives. That child will need extensive therapy and support to overcome the trauma of losing their mother, siblings, and grandmother to violence.

The Search for Jay Dempsey

Police are actively searching for Jay Dempsey. He may be armed and dangerous. The public is urged not to approach him but to call 911 if he is seen. His vehicle, his wife’s car, may have been spotted. Law enforcement agencies across Florida and neighboring states have been alerted.

Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Plant City Police Department at 813 763 3316. Authorities emphasize that even small details could be crucial in advancing the investigation.

Holding Onto Memories

As the investigation continues and the community mourns, the family and friends of Hailey Dempsey, her two young children, and the grandmother are left to do the hardest work of all. They must hold onto their memories of their loved ones while also confronting the reality of their deaths. They must grieve their losses while also waiting for justice. They must find a way to go on without them.

Hailey was 28. Her children were 4 years old and 4 months old. The grandmother was 55. They had their whole lives ahead of them. They had dreams that will never be fulfilled, love that will never be given, moments that will never be experienced. That is the unspeakable tragedy of their deaths. It is not just the loss of what was. It is the loss of what could have been.

But what was still matters. The years that they lived, the people they loved, the joy they brought, the memories they created these things are not erased by their deaths. They remain. They are the inheritance of their surviving family and friends. And as long as those memories are held and shared and cherished, Hailey Dempsey, her children, and her mother will never truly be gone.

Conclusion: A Quadruple Homicide That Shakes Plant City

The killing of Hailey Dempsey, 28; her 4 month old infant; her 4 year old child; and the children’s 55 year old grandmother in a suspected quadruple homicide has left the Plant City community in mourning. A third child was found unharmed. Police have identified Jay Dempsey as a person of interest. He was initially detained but released, and he is now believed to be on the run after hiding in a wooded area and taking his wife’s vehicle. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in reviewing surveillance footage and providing tips.

As Plant City mourns, the community stands together in grief, offering prayers and support to the surviving family members. Rest in peace, Hailey Dempsey and her beloved children. Rest in peace, grandmother. You were loved. You will be missed. And your memories will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew you. Gone too soon, forever remembered.

Anyone with information about Jay Dempsey’s whereabouts should contact the Plant City Police Department at 813 763 3316.