North Port police investigating the murder of middle school teacher Kenneth Ellis

NORTH PORT, Fla. - Police in North Port are searching for suspects in the murder of a Manatee County school teacher.

According to the North Port Police Department, Kenneth Ellis, 61, and his wife were at their home on Albren Street Tuesday night.   When the doorbell rang around 10:15, Mr. Ellis answered and was shot by two masked gunmen.

Neighbors reported that a dark colored four-door sedan leaving the area.

Police told school officials early Wednesday morning that Ellis, a history and Tae Kwon Do instructor at the Manatee School for the Arts, had been killed.

Students were told of Ellis' death by Prinicpal Bill Jones during a special assembly at the school this morning.

Ellis had taught at the school since it opened in 1998.

Teachers and students said Ellis was a strict disciplinarian with a soft side.

"As a teacher, he came across as a strict diciplinarian who used a demerit system and from the outside, seemed very tough," said school principal Dr. Bill Jones. "But, he would tell you that students have to know that you love them, and he did."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the North Port Police Department at 941-429-7382 or 941-429-7300.

Stay with abcactionnews.com for the latest on this developing story.