Bartow, Florida

From the Lakeland Ledger of January 6, 2006

Woman Cleared In April Shooting

The State Attorney's Office concluded Thursday that Vickie Gershenson was justified in fatally shooting 27-year-old Jessica Buchanan of Lake Wales in April 2005.

Assistant State Attorney Paul Wallace wrote in a letter that criminal charges would not be filed against Gershenson, 49, in the shooting death.

Buchanan was shot on the evening of April 23, 2005, at the mobile home that she stayed in with Gershenson at 4553 Scenic Highway in Lake Wales.

That night, Buchanan was upset with Gershenson for going into a bedroom that Buchanan was staying in, Wallace wrote. The argument between the women intensified into a physical confrontation with Buchanan beating Gershenson and threatening to cut her throat, Wallace wrote.

Gershenson fled to her bedroom where she tried to call for help but couldn't because her cellular phone's battery was dead, Wallace wrote.

Gershenson retrieved her revolver and shot Buchanan when she came at her with a knife, Wallace wrote.