Authorities are considering whether to charge an Indiana homeowner who shot and killed a woman working as a house cleaner after she mistakenly arrived at the wrong address.
32-year-old Maria Florinda Rios Perez was found deceased on the front porch of a home in Whitestown, an Indianapolis suburb, early Wednesday morning. The police report indicates that she was part of a cleaning crew that had gone to the incorrect address.
Rios Perez’s husband, Mauricio Velazquez, recounted to local news that he was with her at the front door when the shooting occurred, but he did not realize she had been shot until she collapsed in his arms.
On a fundraising page created for her family, Rios Perez was described as a mother of four. Though she was originally from Indianapolis, her family plans to have her laid to rest in Guatemala. As of Friday, police had not publicly disclosed the identity of the homeowner involved in the incident.
The investigation findings have been submitted to Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood, who noted that deciding whether to press charges is complicated. According to Eastwood, this case involves Indiana’s castle doctrine laws which allow individuals to use reasonable force to protect their dwelling. Similar laws are in effect in 31 states across the country.
Eastwood emphasized the difficulty in navigating scenarios regarding self-defense claims: One of the hardest things today in this world is to agree on what’s reasonable. Previous incidents, such as the shooting of Ralph Yarl, who mistakenly knocked on the wrong door, have led to successful prosecutions in other states, which may influence this case's conclusion.
As the investigation continues, Eastwood expressed the need to examine every minute detail of the events leading to the shooting, including witness interviews and any available surveillance footage. This thorough review aims to clarify what transpired and to better understand the parameters of reasonable action in moments of perceived threat.
