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Mother of Four Fatally Shot in Whitestown After Mistakenly Arriving at Wrong Home
WHITESTOWN, IN – A tragic incident in Whitestown has left a mother of four dead after she was fatally shot on a residential porch early Wednesday morning. Maria Florinda Rios Perez, 32, an immigrant from Guatemala, was a cleaning lady who mistakenly arrived at the wrong address for a job, according to her brother, Rudy Rios.
Rios informed reporters that his sister had just arrived at the residence and was attempting to unlock the door with keys when she was shot in the head. She reportedly collapsed into her husband’s arms.
“It’s so unjust,” Rios, 22, expressed through tears. “She was only trying to bring home the daily bread to support her family.
She accidentally went to the wrong house, but he shouldn’t have taken her life.” He emphasized that his sister was unarmed and posed no threat, holding only keys.
Local authorities responded to a 911 call at 6:49 a.m. regarding a “possible residential entry in progress” in the Heritage subdivision. Upon arrival, officers discovered an adult female, later identified as Rios Perez, with a gunshot wound and an adult male on the front porch. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department later confirmed that the individuals attempting to enter the home were members of a cleaning crew who had mistakenly arrived at the wrong address, clarifying that the incident was not a home invasion or burglary.
Police have urged the public to refrain from speculation and allow the investigative process to unfold. “The loss of life is always a profound tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected,” a statement from the department read.
“We respectfully ask the public to place their trust in the investigative process and refrain from sharing unverified information. These cases are often complex and require time to fully understand.
Misinformation can be harmful to those involved and to the integrity of the investigation.”
No charges have been filed in connection with the shooting at this time. Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood noted that Indiana has robust “stand your ground” laws, which permit homeowners to use reasonable force, including deadly force, to prevent or terminate an unlawful entry or attack on their dwelling, with no duty to retreat.
Rios Perez leaves behind four children, ranging in age from 1 to 17. Her family is hoping for an arrest and charges against the shooter, stating, “because tomorrow there could be more victims like this.” They have initiated a fundraiser to support Rios Perez’s children and to facilitate the transport of her remains back to Guatemala.