A 44-year-old woman died after being shot allegedly by her estranged husband, who forced his way into her apartment in Daytona Beach, Florida. The crime was heard by one of the couple's children, who was talking to his mother on the phone and immediately called the emergency service.
According to authorities, the incident occurred around 6:00 p.m. Monday at an apartment complex located on Reena Drive.
The victim was identified as Jacqueline Reyes, 44, while the alleged attacker was Robert Reyes Jr., 54.
One of the sons heard the attack and called 911
According to information obtained by local media WFTV, Jacqueline Reyes was speaking on the phone with one of the three children she had with the suspect when he broke into the apartment after knocking down the door.
During the call, the son heard his mother say, “Put the gun down,” before hearing a gunshot.
Immediately, the young man called 911 and told the operator what he had just heard.
When the agents arrived at the apartment they found Jacqueline Reyes dead.
After the attack, Robert Reyes Jr. left the scene.
Approximately two hours later, traffic cameras detected it about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Daytona Beach, in the city of Titusville.
Authorities began a chase that ended when the suspect's vehicle fell into a pond.
Officers later found him dead from a gunshot wound that police said was self-inflicted.
Police say jealousy was the motive for the crime.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young indicated that the investigation indicates that the murder was motivated by jealousy.
As he explained, Robert Reyes was trying to resume his relationship with his wife, but became angry when he found out that she had moved on with her life and was seeing other people.
“He broke in through the back door and executed her,” Young said during a news conference.
According to the police chief, Jacqueline Reyes had moved to Daytona Beach approximately a year earlier with the intention of getting away from her husband's alleged abusive behavior.
However, he assured that the harassment continued. Among the incidents investigated is the suspect's previous entry into the apartment, where he allegedly damaged the victim's clothing with bleach.
“This had been going on for quite some time and on Monday it ended tragically,” Young said.
The police chief also expressed his condolences to the couple's three children, who, he said, lost both parents within a period of approximately two hours. The investigation remains open.
