Authorities are considering whether to charge an Indiana homeowner who fatally shot a woman working as a house cleaner after she mistakenly went to the wrong address.
Police found 32-year-old Maria Florinda Rios Perez dead on a Whitestown home’s front porch early Wednesday morning. She was part of a cleaning crew that had arrived at the wrong address.
Rios Perez’s husband, Mauricio Velazquez, recounted to reporters that he was standing at the door with her but did not realize that she had been shot until she fell into his arms, bleeding.
On a fundraising page, her brother described Rios Perez as a mother of four. Although she was from Indianapolis, the family plans to bury her in Guatemala, according to her obituary.
Authorities have not publicly identified the homeowner who shot Rios Perez. The findings of the police investigation were submitted to Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood, who indicated that deciding whether to file charges is complex. This situation invokes Indiana’s “castle doctrine,” which allows property owners to use force, including deadly force, against someone they believe is unlawfully trying to enter their home.
Eastwood noted the challenges of public perception about what constitutes reasonable force in such situations. He emphasized the imperative to thoroughly examine every detail of the case, including witness testimonies and any video evidence available.
The shooting has prompted discussions about similar cases across the nation, where charges have been brought against individuals who responded violently to perceived threats at their homes.
