A mom-of-four was shot and killed on the front porch of a home after she accidentally entered the wrong house as part of a hired cleaning crew.
On Wednesday morning, Maria Florinda Rios Perez, 32, died from a gunshot wound after police said she and her husband mistakenly went to the wrong address, according to the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department.
Officers responded to a call in Whitestown, Indiana – a small town outside of Indianapolis, just before 7am after reports came in of a ‘possible residential entry in progress.’
Investigators later determined that Perez and her husband, Mauricio Velázquez, were working with a cleaning crew, and the initial facts didn’t support a potential break-in.
Officers attempted life-saving efforts, but Perez was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘The loss of life is always a profound tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected,’ the police department said in a statement.
‘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.’
The department added that officers were working with the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office and likely won’t have an update until next week.
Police responded to reports of a potential break in, but Perez’s husband said they never went in the home and were at the correct house
Police responded to reports of a potential break in, but Perez’s husband said they never went in the home and were at the correct house
‘These cases are often complex and require time to fully understand. Misinformation can be harmful to those involved and to the integrity of the investigation,’ the department added.
It’s unclear if charges have been filed against the homeowner who shot and killed Perez.
The Daily Mail has reached out to WMPD and the prosecutor’s office for further comment.
Velázquez told local Fox affiliate, Fox59, through a translator that they never entered the home, and Perez was shot through the door.
‘She didn’t even put the key in when I heard the shot happen,’ Velázquez told the Indianapolis Star.
‘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 OK, but I was seeing the blood coming out.’
Perez left behind four children: Sayda, 17, Gricelda, 10, Greysi, 8, and Yonathan, who is almost one year old.
Velázquez has now been left to raise the children on his own. The family moved to Indianapolis from Guatemala last year, where the couple met.
As Perez’s family mourns her loss, authorities have opened an investigation into her death. It’s unclear if any arrests have been made
As Perez’s family mourns her loss, authorities have opened an investigation into her death. It’s unclear if any arrests have been made
‘For me, she was the love of my life. She was a good wife and a good mother,’ Velázquez said.
A GoFundMe described the mom as ‘a hardworking woman who only wanted to take care of her family’ and ‘a gentle soul taken too soon.’
‘Maria Florinda Rios Perez was known by all who met her as a beacon of kindness, humility, and strength,’ the description continued.
‘She worked tirelessly to support her loved ones, often taking extra jobs to provide a better life for her children.’
As her family mourns, authorities have said that Perez’s death remains an open and active investigation.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
