A woman in New Port Richey, Florida was shot and killed in front of her children early Tuesday morning in what the responding sheriff has called a “targeted” attack.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco told the assembled press that a man knocked on the victim’s door in the suburb north of Tampa around approximately 12:30 a.m. EST. Another woman living in the home was awakened by the knocking, Nacco said.
As she rose to answer the door, the assailant kicked the door in and held her a gunpoint. (RELATED: Florida Cops Support Man Who Used AK-47 To Deal With Home Invasion)
The man then walked into the home and entered a bedroom where the victim and her children were laying, and turned on the lights, according to the sheriff.
“The light comes on, she sees the suspect walk into the door,” Nacco continued.
“She sits up. As she sits up she says, ‘Don’t shoot me.’ The suspect then fires one round at her. She falls off the bed. He fires another round directly at her striking her.”
The victim’s two children were inches away.
“Clearly, this person was targeted,” Nocco said.
The shooter then fled the scene and is currently being sought by police, Nocco said. His department does not currently know if the incident was related to a domestic dispute. However, anyone involved in a relationship with the victim will be questioned.
Mental health counselors are now working with the two children, both under 12, and another woman who was also in the home according to The Associated Press.
“For these young kids, I can imagine they were out last night trick-or-treating and I can imagine they went to bed a little later, like all the kids did last night,” Nocco said.
“But to be woken up, to have a suspect walk in turn that light on and shoot the person who was in the bed with them, that’s horrific. That’s the only word I can think of,” he added.