Donald Williams, 27, has been charged with first-degree murder of 32-year-old Maribel Rosado Morales following the shooting at around 8 a.m. on Monday at a house in Indiantown.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said at a press briefing that there were six children inside the home at the time of the shooting.
None of the children, aged between 10 and 17, who were inside the home were injured as a result of the shooting. Four of them are Morales’ children and the other two are their cousins who live nearby. Williams is not related to any of the children.
Morales’ daughter, a 10-year-old Warfield Elementary School student, was taking an online class along with other children at the time of the shooting.
Snyder said that the teacher noticed that there was some sort of disturbance happening and muted the girl’s screen.
“The teacher said she heard a commotion, heard profanity, realized there was some type of domestic altercation,” Synder said. “Still could see the child that’s online. The teacher said she mutes her button so nobody has to hear it and then she sees the 10-year-old put her hands up to her ears.
“Almost immediately after the child put her hands up to her ears, the computer screen went blank. We know the computer was hit with a projectile,” Snyder said.
Williams is accused of confronting Morales over “some type of video” and a conversation about Facebook, Synder said.
The sheriff said that Williams recounted how Morales “started to smile at him” during the argument and the suspect “became enraged” and shot her.
Morales was taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce, but died from her injuries.
After allegedly shooting the 32-year-old, police said Williams fled the scene on a bike and headed towards a laundromat before boarding a bus.
Synder said the bus driver called 911 because Williams was acting suspiciously. A SWAT team that happened to be nearby then took Williams into custody.
Synder said a gun was found in the bag the suspect was carrying, which they believe to be the murder weapon.
Williams is facing charges of first-degree murder, armed burglary and armed home invasion.
In a statement to CBS 12, Warfield Elementary and the Martin County School District said: “Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the victim’s family, including the children present in the home who were witnesses to this heartbreaking and senseless tragedy.
“We have our grief team deployed to assist students and staff who will undoubtedly feel the impact of this horrible incident. We stand ready to assist and offer support in any way we can.”
The Martin County Sheriff has been contacted for further comment.
