A 45-year-old eighth-grade math teacher at Manatee Academy K-8 School in Port St. Lucie, Florida was fatally shot by her estranged husband in the parking lot of a motel in West Palm Beach, Florida in front of her two sons, aged 10 and 17.
The incident occurred on Friday, March 29, 2024, when Jamie Felix and her sons were confronted by Ray Felix, 60, upon leaving a recreational business. Disguised and armed, Ray Felix forced his family into a Nissan rental car. Under instruction from her husband, Jamie Felix sent an unsettling email to her colleagues at Manatee Academy, which raised immediate concern and was promptly reported to the police by her worried coworkers.
The underlying dispute revolved around the couple’s ongoing divorce proceedings. After driving around for several hours, the family returned to their starting point. Ray Felix then compelled his older son to drive the rental car, following him, Jamie, and the younger son in the family’s Chevrolet SUV.
Their journey led them to a hotel parking lot in West Palm Beach later that evening. The specifics of the confrontation that followed are not entirely clear, but it culminated in Jamie Felix being shot multiple times. Despite the rapid response of first responders, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ray Felix fled the scene but was located by police less than a mile from the hotel. Confronted by officers, he ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
This incident has shed light on a marriage fraught with domestic violence. Ray Felix was arrested in October 2023 following a domestic altercation at the family’s home. Subsequent legal actions included a court order prohibiting Ray Felix from contacting Jamie Felix and one of their children. Ray Felix, previously employed at Manatee Academy, resigned following his arrest.
The loss of Jamie Felix has deeply affected the students and staff at Manatee Academy. A touching tribute, crafted by students mourning the loss of their admired teacher, stands at the school.
A school district representative extended condolence, expressing, “Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and all who knew her during this time of sorrow… Jamie was a beacon of happiness, enthusiasm, and commitment for her students and colleagues, and her absence is deeply felt.”
Tessa Alette, a former student of Jamie Felix’s algebra class, recalled her as an exceptional math educator. She was also known among her peers as an outstanding teacher at the academy.
Alette fondly recounted Jamie Felix’s nurturing qualities, highlighting her role as a confidante for students and her generous habit of providing for them throughout the school day. The term “school mom,” affectionately inscribed on the memorial, encapsulates her loving demeanor.
On a similar note, while contributing to the memorial, another pupil voiced admiration for Jamie Felix, underscoring her dedication to her students’ well-being.
The district has announced the provision of on-site grief support for all those affected for the foreseeable future.
