William "Tyrone" Bell

Mar 10

Written By M T

56 years old · Bradenton, Florida · March 10, 2026

Who he was

William Tyrone Bell was 56 years old and lived in Bradenton, Florida. He was a father, grandfather, and brother. His family described him as family-oriented and loving. He had suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed on his left side — he had seizures, and his left arm was significantly limited. His daughter Damaria Bell said: "He would have seizures, his left side was disabled, he wasn't able to really lift his grandkids or do much in that arm." His daughter added: "My dad was not a high-risk person. He hadn't been in trouble in years. That's important for people to understand." His brother Willy Bell said simply: "That's not right. No matter what he did."

What happened

On the morning of March 10, 2026, around 9:30–9:40 a.m., Bradenton Police narcotics officers and the SWAT team arrived at Bell's home in the 300 block of 10th Avenue West to serve a high-risk search warrant related to a narcotics investigation. Police said the warrant was classified as high-risk because a resident of the home was a convicted felon with a firearm inside. Officers knocked and announced their presence. Two people inside the home exited. A SWAT officer noticed a third room with a closed door. Officers breached a window into that room and found Bell standing next to a bed with a gun in his hand. Police say officers gave multiple commands for Bell to drop the weapon, that he did not comply, and that a SWAT officer fired three shots. A SWAT medic immediately rendered aid but Bell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bell's family disputes this account. His brother Willy Bell said officers threw a flashbang through the window and never gave Bell a chance to get out of the bed before opening fire. The family has noted that Bell was partially paralyzed from a stroke — raising the question of whether he was physically capable of complying quickly with commands following a flashbang deployment in a confined space.

Official ruling

The Bradenton Police Department classified the shooting as a justified response to a threat. The SWAT officer who fired was placed on administrative leave pending review. Per department policy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an independent investigation. FDLE will present findings to the State Attorney's Office, which will determine whether the officer's actions were justified under Florida law.

Contested record

The family and the Manatee County NAACP gathered outside Bradenton City Hall on April 14, 2026, to demand full transparency. NAACP President Tracey Washington stated: "We are asking, no demanding, that every detail surrounding this incident be made public. We are not asking for special treatment here; we are asking for what is right." The family and NAACP demanded the release of all body camera footage, the names of all officers involved, a complete timeline of events, and an independent review of the investigation.

Body camera footage has not been released. The names of the officers involved have not been made public. The family's central question is whether officers adequately accounted for Bell's physical disability when making tactical decisions — including the deployment of a flashbang through a window into a room where a partially paralyzed man was sleeping.

Damaria Bell said: "He was not supposed to die like this. We are not supposed to be mourning him in this way. This isn't just about our family. It is about making sure that situations like this are handled the right way, so no other family has to experience this kind of loss."

Legal process

March 10, 2026 — William Tyrone Bell shot and killed by Bradenton Police SWAT officer during execution of narcotics search warrant. Pronounced dead at the scene. SWAT officer placed on administrative leave.

March 10, 2026 — Florida Department of Law Enforcement opens independent investigation per department policy.

April 14, 2026 — Family and Manatee County NAACP gather outside Bradenton City Hall demanding body camera footage, officer names, full timeline, and independent review.

As of May 31, 2026 — Body camera footage not released. Officers not publicly named. FDLE investigation ongoing. State Attorney's Office has not received or acted on findings. No charges filed.