Miami-Dade County, Florida- A tragic murder-suicide incident in Palmetto Estates, Florida, resulted in the death of a much-loved charter school math teacher, according to local law enforcement. Maria Cruz de la Cruz, a 51-year-old mother and elementary school teacher, was discovered with gunshot wounds in a residence on Friday afternoon, as per Miami-Dade Police Department’s Detective Angel Rodriguez.
In addition to Cruz, another male victim was shot by the assailant, who later took his own life. The police have not disclosed the condition of the male victim. Another woman was present in the house at the time of the incident but escaped unharmed.
Both Cruz and the injured male were rushed to Jackson South Medical Center. Unfortunately, Cruz succumbed to her injuries. The perpetrator, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, with the firearm lying next to him. Detective Rodriguez confirmed that the incident was a murder-suicide.
Following the incident, local news outlets captured footage of the unscathed survivor and another woman conversing with police officers. Cruz was a dedicated math teacher at Doral Academy K-8 Charter, as revealed by a GoFundMe page set up in her memory. At the time of her untimely death, Cruz had been serving the school for nearly a decade.
Principal Eleanora Cuesta expressed her sorrow over the loss of Cruz, praising her compassion, commitment, and love for her students. She extended her thoughts and prayers to Cruz’s daughters during this challenging time. As of Sunday morning, the GoFundMe campaign for Cruz’s family had collected over $22,000 of its $100,000 target.
Residents of Palmetto Estates, where the incident occurred, stated that the occupants of the house were newcomers to the neighborhood. One local resident reported hearing the gunshots and promptly dialing 911. Another resident, Raidel Munoz, recounted the unsettling sight of the area being cordoned off by authorities.