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Background: News footage of the Dr. Limon restaurant in Homestead, Fla. (WPLG). Inset: Samantha Morales (Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation).
A Florida woman is currently in custody following allegations of opening fire on a group of women as they exited a restaurant.
Samantha Morales, 34, is facing multiple charges after reportedly driving up to three women outside a restaurant on the evening of April 17 and shooting at them, injuring two. During a bond hearing on Monday, a judge ruled that Morales would remain detained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond.
As detailed in an arrest report obtained by Law&Crime, the incident unfolded as the three women were saying their farewells outside the Dr. Limon restaurant in Homestead, Florida. Morales, a stranger to the women, allegedly approached them in her black Tesla. One of the women recounted to police that Morales called out to them from her vehicle, inquiring, “You all good?”
In response, one woman assured Morales, saying, “Yes, we good. Are you good?”
Morales is said to have retorted, “Yes, b—, but it looks like you have a problem.” A witness reported to police that Morales then opened her car door and challenged the women, asking, “What are you gonna do about it?”
According to the arrest report, the women verbally confronted Morales while another witness told them to get away because Morales had a gun. Police said at some point, Morales fired two shots and hit two of the women. A physical altercation ensued as one of the women “lunged” at Morales in an attempt to knock the gun away from her. The alleged fight ended when police arrived and separated the women from Morales.
Morales was read her rights and told police that she did not remember what happened, except that she was “fighting for her life.” Police said she admitted to having “three alcoholic beverages” before the alleged shooting.
Morales was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, one count of using a firearm, and two misdemeanors. She is in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she was ordered to be held without bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday and will be arraigned on May 18.
Local independent news outlet WPLG reported that the two women who were shot were in stable condition.