In Indiana, detectives have wrapped up their initial probe into the fatal shooting of a cleaning woman who accidentally went to the wrong address and was shot through the door by a resident fearing an intruder, police reported on Friday.
The Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department’s findings have been submitted to the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office to decide on possible criminal charges related to Wednesday’s incident.
Prosecutor Kent Eastwood explained that the case is complicated due to Indiana’s “castle doctrine” within the “stand your ground law,” which permits individuals to defend against home invaders, sometimes with deadly force.
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The victim was identified as Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez, 32, an Indianapolis resident and mother of four, who reportedly emigrated from Guatemala.
Police spokesperson Captain John Jurkhash stated that Rios Perez was shot in the head by one of two residents as she and her husband arrived at the home just before dawn.
The residents had already contacted emergency services to report a potential burglary in progress.
Officers found Rios Perez fatally injured and confirmed she and her husband were “members of a cleaning crew who mistakenly arrived at the wrong address,” according to a police statement.
No evidence of a break-in attempt was found, police noted.
Her husband, Mauricio Velazquez, told an online news outlet they believed they were at the correct location, having double-checked before approaching the house.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Velazquez stated they were on the front porch searching for the house key when the shooting occurred.
Police have not disclosed the residents’ identities or who fired the shot, describing the investigation as a “complex, delicate, and evolving case.”
The situation echoes similar incidents where homeowners have shot individuals mistakenly perceived as intruders after arriving at the wrong address.
The county prosecutor will review whether Indiana’s law, which allows deadly force if a homeowner believes they are under threat from an intruder, applies in this case.
