A tragic incident unfolded in Indiana when a mother of four was fatally shot by mistake after arriving at the wrong house. The woman, Maria Florinda Rios Perez, was killed on the porch before she even attempted to unlock the door. The heartbreaking event occurred just before 7 a.m. on a Wednesday morning.
Police responded to a call reporting a possible home invasion and discovered the 32-year-old’s lifeless body at the scene. Her husband, Mauricio Velázquez, was found by her side, visibly distraught by the shocking turn of events.
Authorities have confirmed that there was no intention of burglary or forced entry by the couple. The couple, both self-employed cleaners, had double-checked the address by driving around the block twice to ensure they were at the correct location, Velázquez explained through a translator to the Indy Star.
As they stood at the front door, Velázquez was attempting to find the right key when Perez took them from him, moments before the tragic shooting occurred.
The couple, who are self-employed cleaners, drove around the block and checked twice to make sure they had the correct address, Velázquez said through a translator to the Indy Star.
When the couple was outside the front door of the home, Velázquez was fumbling with the keys when Perez grabbed them.
‘She didn’t even put the key in when I heard the shot happen. I saw my wife had stepped back twice, and then the keys dropped. Then she dropped, and I went to catch her.’
‘I was trying to console her and tell her everything was going to be OK, but I was seeing the blood coming out,’ the husband told the outlet.
Maria Florinda Rios Perez was gunned down on the porch of the home she thought she was paid to tidy up on Wednesday, just before 7am in Whitestown
Authorities have not released the identity of the shooter.
A GoFundMe was set up in an effort to support Perez’s family and funeral costs.
Members of her community described her as “a hardworking woman who only wanted to take care of her family” and “a gentle soul taken too soon,” according to the fundraiser.
Maria Florinda Rios Perez was known by all who met her as a beacon of kindness, humility, and strength. She worked tirelessly to support her loved ones, often taking extra jobs to provide a better life for her children.’
‘Friends and coworkers remember her infectious smile, her laughter, and the way she always made time to help others — even when life was hard. Her heart was as big as her dreams for her family,’ the campaign continued.
The crowdfunding effort is more than halfway to its goal of $100,000.
The father of four only asked that people pray for his family. His children range from less than a year old to 17.
‘Raising them isn’t going to be easy,’ he noted to the Star.
The police received a report about a possible home invasion and found the 32-year-old deceased on the property with her distraught husband, Mauricio Velázquez, by her side
Officials have ruled out that the couple was trying to break into the home
Velázquez further explained how his wife loved to dress their kids up and that she was a good mother.
Perez said they are bringing her body back to Guatemala, where she was originally from. The family had only been in Indianapolis for one year.
Velázquez added that whoever shot his wife should have tried to call the authorities first, and wants to see justice.
Whitestown officials said that the investigation is ongoing in a statement online.
‘The loss of life is always a profound tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected. WMPD is committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation.’
‘Our detectives are interviewing all individuals involved, and our Crime Scene Investigators are meticulously collecting and analyzing all relevant evidence to understand the full scope of what occurred,’ said the police department.
