WHITESTOWN — The Whitetown Metropolitan Police say it has completed its initial investigation into the shooting that killed Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez. The case has been formally submitted to the Boone County Prosecutor's Office for review.
In its most recent press release on Friday, Whitestown Metro Police said the department is aware of claims made online that the homeowner involved in this shooting is a local police officer.
"We want to unequivocally state that these claims are entirely false. No officer—whether currently serving, retired, resigned, terminated, or otherwise affiliated with the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department or any other police department—resides at or has any personal connection to the location of the incident," Whitestown Police said in the release. "These inaccurate claims pose a serious safety risk to uninvolved officers and their families and must cease immediately."
At this time, no charges have been filed in this case. The Boone County Prosecutor will make final charging decision.
Update 11.06
Boone County Coroner Justin Sparks has released the identity of the woman shot and killed at a house in Whitestown.
Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez, 32 of Indianapolis, was a member of a cleaning crew, who police say went to the wrong house by mistake for a job, and was shot by the homeowner from inside the house.
An autopsy was also conducted, and the coroner's office has concluded the manner of death a homicide, resulting from a gunshot wound to the head.
The Boone County Prosecutor told WRTV that homicide in this context does not necessarily imply criminal intent.
“It has no impact. It is a classification of manner of death. No implication in the criminal realm. “
“Homicide in the context means the death was caused by a volitional act by another person, not necessarily implying criminal intent.”
The prosecutor is still determining whether the homeowner will face any charges. This remains an active investigation.
Update 12:15 p.m.:
In a news release, the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department stated that "it was later determined that the individuals attempting to enter the home were members of a cleaning crew who had mistakenly arrived at the wrong address. This remains an active and ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting. The facts gathered do not support that a residential entry occurred. We want to reassure the community that this appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no known threat to public safety."
Original Story:
WHITESTOWN — A woman was found dead on a front porch Wednesday morning after police responded to a 911 call reporting a possible home invasion.
According to Whitestown Police, officers received the call at 6:49 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a deceased adult female and evidence of a gunshot from inside the home.
Police said they are now investigating the incident as a fatal shooting, not a home invasion.
"They found a deceased adult female, and they found a gunshot hole or a gunshot that had come from inside the home," said Captain John Yurkosh, public information officer for Whitestown Police.
Officers attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. The woman was not the homeowner.
Police have not identified victims or suspects. All individuals involved were taken for questioning.
"Everyone is just a person of interest or a person of involvement with the incident," Yurkosh said.
No other injuries were reported. Police said there is no threat to the public and called it an isolated incident.
Detectives and crime scene investigators are canvassing for security camera footage. The victim's identity has not been released pending family notification.
Police hope to have an update by day's end.
