A harrowing family tragedy shook a quiet neighborhood in Greenacres, South Florida, this Monday. A man of Cuban descent reportedly shot and killed his partner and her daughter, both also Cuban, before taking his own life in the residential complex where they lived.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) revealed on Tuesday that the victims were identified as Milvia Quintana Placeres, 59, and Brianna Rodríguez Quintana, 25. The suspected shooter, identified as Juan Estévez Mesa, 60, was reported by local media.
All three individuals resided in an apartment within the Pine Ridge North 1 condominium on Shady Pine Way, where the tragic shooting took place, according to the authorities.
As per the official report, police received a call about gunfire around 7 a.m. on Monday in the 500 block of Pine Way. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered one woman deceased and another suffering from gunshot wounds.
The injured woman was rushed to a nearby hospital by paramedics, but she succumbed to her severe injuries shortly after.
Authorities stated that following the shooting, Estévez barricaded himself inside the residence. When he failed to respond to orders to exit, the PBSO SWAT team secured the area and entered the premises, where they found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This was confirmed to be a case of double murder followed by suicide, in what is suspected to be a domestic violence incident, as reported by CBS.
Although police confirmed that the victims and their assailant were acquainted, they did not specify the exact nature of their relationship. However, acquaintances shared on social media that Quintana and Estévez were romantically involved, and all hailed from Camagüey.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities gather information to clarify the circumstances that led to this violent event, which has left the residents of the peaceful Greenacres neighborhood in shock.
The distressing incident has left family, friends, and the Cuban community in South Florida and Cuba deeply saddened.
Understanding the Tragic Incident in Greenacres
Who were the victims in the Greenacres shooting?
The victims were Milvia Quintana Placeres, 59, and her daughter Brianna Rodríguez Quintana, 25.
What do we know about the suspected shooter?
The suspected shooter was identified as Juan Estévez Mesa, 60, who reportedly took his own life after the incident.
What led to the tragedy in Greenacres?
The exact circumstances are still under investigation, but it is believed to be a case of domestic violence.