Teacher watches in horror on Zoom lesson as 10-year old student’s mom is shot dead by ex-boyfriend in front of her 6 children
The first day of school after a long holiday or summer breaks always holds a special place in the hearts of kids. It’s the day the children meet their friends again, take part in activities, learn new things.
Zoom calls are the doorway to the “back to school” experience for many since many schools have decided to conduct classes online due to the pandemic. But this new experience turned into a day full of horror for a 10-year-old daughter who witnessed the tragic death of her mother while she was on a zoom call with her entire class, and teacher.
The Florida elementary school kid was on a Zoom call attending her first day, from the family’s home in Indiantown, when suspect Donald J. Williams, 27, entered the house, reported NBC News. Along with the 10-year-old, there were five more children when a heated argument ensured between Williams and the mother, at around 8 in the morning, on Tuesday, August 11.
Donald J. Williams was taken into custody on the same day with the charges of first-degree murder and some other felony offenses, disclosed William Snyder, Martin County Sheriff. The suspect is believed to be mother, Maribel Rosado-Morales’, 32. What started as a “domestic altercation” soon turned ugly when Donald took out his gun and shot Maribel leaving all her kids suffering. She later passed away in the hospital.
In a press conference on Tuesday, August 11, Snyder revealed that the little girl’s teacher was the witness to the whole incident. He said, “The teacher’s online — I’ve never done a Zoom with children, so I’m picturing there’s other children on — and the teacher can see the children. The teacher said she heard a commotion, heard profanity.”
“Realized there was some type of domestic altercation. Still could see the child that’s online. The teacher said she mutes her button so nobody has to hear it and then she sees the 10-year-old put her hands up to her ears,” he continued.
“Almost immediately after the child put her hands up to her ears, the computer screen went blank. We know the computer was hit with a projectile,” he added.
Morales’ brother remembered his sister and said, “She was a strong person. She was a loving person.” Morales’ fiancé, shocked by the incident revealed that he was talking to her when the shooting happened. He said he could hear the children yelling in the background as they saw their mother being shot.
“I was on the phone with her. I said, baby, call the police,” Morales’ fiancé said. “Why? She didn’t do nothing. Why? She didn’t deserve it. I wasn’t there to save her. I wasn’t there,” he said. Even in those crucial moments, Morales hid her kids and herself in the closet, reported WPTV.
Talking about how he and the kids are taking the horrendous loss of their mother, he said, “I have hatred. Yeah, I’m not going to lie, I want to do 1,000 things to him. But you know what? I forgive him, man. I forgive him and he’ll have his day. Her kids hate him, but they forgive him too.”
According to the investigators, an argument between Morales and Williams led to the tragedy. “He went in and confronted her with something to do with a video and then later we learned there was a conversation about Facebook. He said she actually started to smile at him and he became enraged and shot her.”
Morales suffered multiple shots. However, none of the kids were injured, but they lost their loving mother. Out of the 6 children, four were her kids and the other two were cousins. Williams was trying to flee when the officers caught him along with the gun. Snyder revealed that he “made a full confession.”
Martin County School District also expressed their feelings about the whole incident. A spokesperson said, “Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and children who were witnesses to this heartbreaking and senseless tragedy.”
“The incident is still under active investigation by law enforcement, and we will continue to respect the privacy of the teacher and our students,” the district added, as reported by NBC.
Morale’s neighbor. Linda Morris, told the CW34, “I think it’s horrible. It’s absolutely horrible that someone would be found dead like this, a shooting especially in Indiantown, it’s usually quiet here.”
Another neighbor Caroll said, “I think it’s sad, especially the neighborhood. I knew the woman. She was a very nice girl, gave my kids clothes and stuff like that.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the kid. It will help create a better future fo the devastated kids.
