North Port HS students mourn loss of teacher in alleged murder-suicide

NORTH PORT, Fla. – North Port High School students will return to school Monday with the void left from Friday’s alleged murder-suicide.

Antoinette “Ann” Gordon taught language arts and intensive reading at North Port High School. But on Monday, her smiling face will be missing from the hallways and the classrooms.

Her estranged husband, Hugh Gordon, is accused of shooting her dead in a McDonald’s parking lot in Port Charlotte. Hugh Gordon then turned the gun on himself, committing a murder suicide right in front of his wife’s young son, Charlotte County deputies said.

Antoinette Gordon had been teaching for 11 years, according to the Sarasota County School District. On Sunday, a memorial was held at North Port High School to remember the woman, Ms. Gordon, as she was known to many students.

Many attendees said Antoinette Gordon cared deeply about her students and their success.

“She just wanted to make children happy. She wanted them to reach their highest potential; that was her goal,” one person said.

Antoinette Gordon’s death is tough to accept, her best friend Terry Matis said.

“It’s really devastating. It really is,” she said.

Students at North Port High School created cards for their teacher’s family and grieved. Deputies said Antoinette Gordon’s son was not hurt and is safe.