Florida man arrested for firing gun over lake on New Year’s Eve that killed woman: ‘Stupid actions’
The Brief
Kissimmee Police have arrested a man accused of firing a gun into the air to celebrate the new year, which struck and killed a woman nearby.
Carlos Manuel Tejada was arrested and booked into jail on a charge of culpable negligence.
Carmen Rosa Neira Ochoa was watching fireworks on her back porch, her family said, when a bullet flew through the screen and hit her. She died at the hospital.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Three weeks after a Florida woman was killed on New Year’s Eve by suspected celebratory gunfire, law enforcement in Kissimmee have arrested the person allegedly responsible.
Carlos Manuel Tejada, 44, was arrested on Friday at his house and booked into jail on a charge of manslaughter by culpable negligence in the death of Carmen Rosa Neira Ochoa, who was shot and killed while watching fireworks with her two daughters on her back patio.
(Credit: Osceola County Sheriff’s Office)
What they’re saying
“What goes up, must come down,” newly-appointed Kissimmee Police Department Chief Robert Anzueto said during a press conference.
“I don’t think (Tejada) was intending to kill anybody at that point, but his stupid actions caused the death of one of our citizens,” he said.
What goes up, must come down
The backstory
Chief Anzueto said Ochoa was with her two daughters watching New Year’s Eve fireworks from her screened-in back porch when she felt a sudden sharp pain. She had been shot and was taken to the hospital where she died.
Her daughters and first responders attempted life-saving measures, but it wasn’t enough.
Police said the suspect, Carlos Tejada, lived across the lake from the woman. He allegedly fired a gun into the air to celebrate the New Year. One of those bullets went through the woman’s porch and hit her.
Law enforcement said 11 guns were recovered from the suspect’s house.
Chief Anzueto said celebratory gunfire is illegal and becoming more common, though the cases themselves are difficult to investigate. He said ballistics and evidence sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, including one of the bullets that struck the woman, helped them find Tejada.
A loving mother and grandmother
Local perspective
FOX 35’s Caroline Coles spoke with Alex Marquez, Ochoa’s son-in-law. He remembered his mother-in-law as a hard-working woman who didn’t deserve this.
“I just want to raise awareness to people out there, ya know, celebrating, ya know, don’t shoot guns. They don’t know what family they can hurt,” he said.
10-year-old girl killed by celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve
A 10-year-old girl in Miami was shot and killed on New Year’s Eve by suspected celebratory gunfire, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Officials said the shooting was reported 12:04 a.m.
The little girl was identified as Yaneliz Munguia.
“This heartbreaking incident serves as a devastating reminder that what goes up must come down,” the police department said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
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