Florida woman shot at home in front of 6 kids, online teacher
08/12/2020 5:28 pm PDT
via WPTV:
INDIANTOWN, Fla. (WPTV) -- A woman who was shot by her ex-boyfriend in front of several children inside an Indiantown home on Tuesday morning has died, authorities say.
Martin County Sheriff Snyder said Maribel Rosado Morales, 32, was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, Donald Williams, 27, in the 14000 block of SW 173rd Avenue around 8 a.m. Tuesday.
The sheriff said six children ranging in age from 10 to 17 were inside the home at the time of the shooting, and at least one of them was taking virtual learning during the first day of school in Martin County. None were injured, but several witnessed the shooting, Snyder said.
"The teacher's statement is that she heard a commotion. She did hear some high tone conversation, noticed some kind of confrontation, muted it, and then watched the 10-year-old put her hands up to her ears," Snyder said.
On Wednesday, Morales' family members said the child that was online is 9 years old and has Down syndrome.
After the shooting, authorities said Williams fled the scene, attempted to board a public transportation bus, and asked the driver if she would take him to Stuart. The bus driver got suspicious, exited the bus, and called 911.
Sheriff Snyder said a SWAT Team was in the area for training, heard the 911 call, and responded to the scene and took Williams into custody. According to the sheriff, the SWAT Team said Williams was carrying a stolen gun.
Snyder said Williams confessed to the killing, and will be charged with first-degree murder, armed burglary, and armed home invasion, among other charges.
TCPalm reports Williams and Morales-Rosado had been separated for more than a year, according to Snyder. Snyder also said she recently was released from jail in connection with a domestic battery case in which Williams was the victim.
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