A 51-year-old mother was killed by her own husband before he turned the gun on himself.
Maria Cruz de la Cruz, who worked as a middle school teacher at Doral Academy K-8 School, was reported shot by her husband who also shot a family acquaintance.
Police rushed to the scene and found three injured people inside a house in Palmetto Estates, Miami.
Maria and the other victim were taken to Jackson South Medical Center where she passed away while the man remains in a critical condition.
A neighbor told NBC6: “You don’t know what the neighbors are capable of, it could have happened outside and someone could have gotten hurt innocently. I just hope that nothing like this ever happens again.”
She also said that the couple just moved to the area.
Another neighbor, Raidel Munoz, told the news outlet: “Noticed a bunch of ambulances coming by, firefighters, helicopter then I came outside to see what was going on. Quite very concerning, I never expected something like this so close to my home.”
The Academy where Maria taught geometry, algebra and Spanish has started a GoFundMe to support her daughters.
“Please join our school community as we grieve the tragic loss of Ms. Maria Cruz, a beloved teacher who showed unwavering love and dedication to our Doral Academy and Just Arts and Management students for nearly a decade,” the page read.
Doral Academy Principal Eleonora Cuesta also said: “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the loss of our cherished Ms. Maria Cruz.
“May the memory of our beloved Maria Cruz be a blessing.”
The fundraising page has received almost $33,000 of its $100,000 goal.
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