Cleaning crew member shot and killed on porch after arriving at the wrong house

[CuriousCricket]

I'm sure this has been mentioned, but it gnaws at me...
An empty house/apt -- did the cleaning-crew person/s contact the one who hired the person/s when the person was in front of or near the dwelling? At least confirm the correct street and the house/apartment's address? (Maybe it could have already been done -- but either the sub-division or street or house address was incorrect -- nothing wrong with checking one more time if/when the person who came there went to the wrong address.)
So horribly sad.

So incredibly sad, as you say. The kind of thing that gnaws at you. Makes you want to find ways it might have turned out differently. Ways to prevent something like this in the future.

In addition to your thoughts on the cleaners, I've thought about the employer. Agent or owner of a new house -- perhaps being readied to put on the market to sell. Wouldn't it make sense to take the cleaners out and show them the exact location? Especially if you are hiring someone new to the area, someone who might not speak or read the language easily in order to follow even detailed instructions to the location. If this was a new subdivision not yet on the maps and Internet, would the employer not know this? To me, it would seem a simple matter for an employer to be totally sure the cleaners knew the exact location, the exact home in a subdivision that might have several new homes.

I don't understand someone having that much invested in a location, perhaps wanting it available to market as soon as possible not taking the time to be positive the correct house would be cleaned.

And the cleaners, new to a country, four children, almost certainly needing the money from their job -- why did they risk not getting the correct location? Did they know / understand the correct address was a new home with no one living there? Why would they ignore furniture on the porch? were there shades/curtains in the windows?

Certainly as you mentioned, a quick call to describe the house to the "boss" just to be positive. So many things that might have been done differently to avoid this horrific outcome.

 

[tara83]

So incredibly sad, as you say. The kind of thing that gnaws at you. Makes you want to find ways it might have turned out differently. Ways to prevent something like this in the future.

In addition to your thoughts on the cleaners, I've thought about the employer. Agent or owner of a new house -- perhaps being readied to put on the market to sell. Wouldn't it make sense to take the cleaners out and show them the exact location? Especially if you are hiring someone new to the area, someone who might not speak or read the language easily in order to follow even detailed instructions to the location. If this was a new subdivision not yet on the maps and Internet, would the employer not know this? To me, it would seem a simple matter for an employer to be totally sure the cleaners knew the exact location, the exact home in a subdivision that might have several new homes.

I don't understand someone having that much invested in a location, perhaps wanting it available to market as soon as possible not taking the time to be positive the correct house would be cleaned.

And the cleaners, new to a country, four children, almost certainly needing the money from their job -- why did they risk not getting the correct location? Did they know / understand the correct address was a new home with no one living there? Why would they ignore furniture on the porch? were there shades/curtains in the windows?

Certainly as you mentioned, a quick call to describe the house to the "boss" just to be positive. So many things that might have been done differently to avoid this horrific outcome.

And also a disturbed individual owning a gun who clearly was trigger happy and had issues. We could look at that.

 

[Dotta]

So incredibly sad, as you say. The kind of thing that gnaws at you. Makes you want to find ways it might have turned out differently. Ways to prevent something like this in the future.

In addition to your thoughts on the cleaners, I've thought about the employer. Agent or owner of a new house -- perhaps being readied to put on the market to sell. Wouldn't it make sense to take the cleaners out and show them the exact location? Especially if you are hiring someone new to the area, someone who might not speak or read the language easily in order to follow even detailed instructions to the location. If this was a new subdivision not yet on the maps and Internet, would the employer not know this? To me, it would seem a simple matter for an employer to be totally sure the cleaners knew the exact location, the exact home in a subdivision that might have several new homes.

I don't understand someone having that much invested in a location, perhaps wanting it available to market as soon as possible not taking the time to be positive the correct house would be cleaned.

And the cleaners, new to a country, four children, almost certainly needing the money from their job -- why did they risk not getting the correct location? Did they know / understand the correct address was a new home with no one living there? Why would they ignore furniture on the porch? were there shades/curtains in the windows?

Certainly as you mentioned, a quick call to describe the house to the "boss" just to be positive. So many things that might have been done differently to avoid this horrific outcome.

Exactly my thoughts re an employer.
And I even mentioned it earlier.

I cannot imagine going to an unknown location on the 1st day of work.
(Especially in a foreign country.)

Oh, by the way, I don't blame the victims!!!
They took what was offered to them.

But, usually,
the boss introduces the place to employees explaining all the details.

At least, that has always been my experience.

JMO

 

[Lebowski]

i'm sure cleaning crews will be a lot more careful from now on. they'll get confirmation of the address in triplicate, call before getting out of the car, and approach the door with their hands up saying they come in peace. since that is apparently what it takes not to get shot.

 

[IceIce9]

So incredibly sad, as you say. The kind of thing that gnaws at you. Makes you want to find ways it might have turned out differently. Ways to prevent something like this in the future.

In addition to your thoughts on the cleaners, I've thought about the employer. Agent or owner of a new house -- perhaps being readied to put on the market to sell. Wouldn't it make sense to take the cleaners out and show them the exact location? Especially if you are hiring someone new to the area, someone who might not speak or read the language easily in order to follow even detailed instructions to the location. If this was a new subdivision not yet on the maps and Internet, would the employer not know this? To me, it would seem a simple matter for an employer to be totally sure the cleaners knew the exact location, the exact home in a subdivision that might have several new homes.

I don't understand someone having that much invested in a location, perhaps wanting it available to market as soon as possible not taking the time to be positive the correct house would be cleaned.

And the cleaners, new to a country, four children, almost certainly needing the money from their job -- why did they risk not getting the correct location? Did they know / understand the correct address was a new home with no one living there? Why would they ignore furniture on the porch? were there shades/curtains in the windows?

Certainly as you mentioned, a quick call to describe the house to the "boss" just to be positive. So many things that might have been done differently to avoid this horrific outcome.

This is a rapidly growing area, many new neighborhoods in the vicinity with construction of new homes.

The neighborhood where the tragedy occurred had homes still under construction, newly constructed homes, and occupied homes.

The home they were assigned to clean was a model home.

In these neighborhoods it can be difficult to find an address because often GPS is not updated and street signs aren’t installed yet.

In my neighborhood we frequently receive packages delivered to the wrong home. Our neighborhood website has daily posts from neighbors in our neighborhood and nearby neighborhoods who have received packages delivered to the wrong address.

 

[IceIce9]

i'm sure cleaning crews will be a lot more careful from now on. they'll get confirmation of the address in triplicate, call before getting out of the car, and approach the door with their hands up saying they come in peace. since that is apparently what it takes not to get shot.

What about pizza delivery drivers, Door Dash, Amazon delivery, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.

 

[Lebowski]

What about pizza delivery drivers, Door Dash, Amazon delivery, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.

yeah, there's no limit to the kinds of sinister home invaders a responsible law-abiding gun owner has to use deadly force against

 

[Dotta]

What about pizza delivery drivers, Door Dash, Amazon delivery, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.

They usually leave the goods at the door, no?
No need to enter.

 

[The4TierBridge]

They usually leave the goods at the door, no?
No need to enter.

I think he may have been using sarcasm

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Mauricio Velázquez has insisted they were at the correct address.

MSN

How do you think you’re at the correct address with clearly marked street signs. This house appeared to be right near the street sign from what I’ve seen in news clips. I wonder if he was given the wrong address.

 

[lonetraveler]

Since when is it ok to shoot through the door and kill someone on the porch. I know in this state, the person has to be in the home for breaking into the home. Never have I seen that it was legal to shoot through the door.

 

[tara83]

Since when is it ok to shoot through the door and kill someone on the porch. I know in this state, the person has to be in the home for breaking into the home. Never have I seen that it was legal to shoot through the door.

It's not and soon enough I'm expecting the DA to do the right thing and charge this creep with murder.

 

[Dotta]

It's not and soon enough I'm expecting the DA to do the right thing and charge this creep with murder.

I think so.
Especially as there seems to be public's pressure.
Were there some demonstrations outside DA's office?

 

[Cryptic]

I'm very curious if Maria and her husband had obvious cleaning supplies in hand,

If so, and they were seen on camera, how did the homeowner jump to the conclusion they were breaking in?

I am thinking he was operating under the following line of “thought”:

- Most Hispanics are part of narco cartel death squads.

- So, any cleaning gear would be part of a disguise- right?

- These death squads routinely conduct, home invasion robberies of random homes.

-It’s kill or be killed- just like the You Tube self defense “gurus” prophesize about!!!

 

[Friday Fan]

Did he call 911 before or after shooting her?

Homeowner called 911 at 6:49 am
Shot fired at 6:54 am
Her husband called 911 at 6:57 am

You would think the dispatcher would stay on the line with the homeowner if they were "reasonably fearful".

This county has a population of 78,773, so I don't think dispatch was super busy dealing with other "home invasions" etc.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

i'm sure cleaning crews will be a lot more careful from now on. they'll get confirmation of the address in triplicate, call before getting out of the car, and approach the door with their hands up saying they come in peace. since that is apparently what it takes not to get shot.

Yes, and with bullet proof vest and helmets just incase all the above still isnt good enough..

 

[tlcya]

In this day and age, where uber eats and doordash, etc. are an actual THING in the world, the idea that someone would fire a weapon through a closed door because someone is on their porch is absolutely terrifying to me. This could have been anyone in the world who landed at a wrong address through human error, or a girl scout, a kid selling raffle tickets for his football team, the local precinct committeeman with a petition, any number of perfectly normal, non threatening reasons someone might be at a residence's door.

I just cannot wrap my head around the monumental stupidity of the homeowner. I worry this is related to the fact that the victim had certain physical attributes and a very specific "look"

 

[CuriousCricket]

In this day and age, where uber eats and doordash, etc. are an actual THING in the world, the idea that someone would fire a weapon through a closed door because someone is on their porch is absolutely terrifying to me. This could have been anyone in the world who landed at a wrong address through human error, or a girl scout, a kid selling raffle tickets for his football team, the local precinct committeeman with a petition, any number of perfectly normal, non threatening reasons someone might be at a residence's door.

I just cannot wrap my head around the monumental stupidity of the homeowner. I worry this is related to the fact that the victim had certain physical attributes and a very specific "look"

This is NOT a case of just anyone arriving at the wrong address. You are omitting several minutes of someone actually attempting to break into a home. Was shooting through a door monumentally stupid? I agree. But let's not turn this into Door Dash or Pizza delivery stupidity, either.

 

[Monty Ma]

In this day and age, where uber eats and doordash, etc. are an actual THING in the world, the idea that someone would fire a weapon through a closed door because someone is on their porch is absolutely terrifying to me. This could have been anyone in the world who landed at a wrong address through human error, or a girl scout, a kid selling raffle tickets for his football team, the local precinct committeeman with a petition, any number of perfectly normal, non threatening reasons someone might be at a residence's door.

I just cannot wrap my head around the monumental stupidity of the homeowner. I worry this is related to the fact that the victim had certain physical attributes and a very specific "look"

Done at a time of day when kids would be outside walking to bus stop or waiting for a bus. How many other times has this homeowner shot through a door to know exactly how a bullet would react and how far it would travel? Zero I'm guessing.

 

[Monty Ma]

Homeowner called 911 at 6:49 am
Shot fired at 6:54 am
Her husband called 911 at 6:57 am

You would think the dispatcher would stay on the line with the homeowner if they were "reasonably fearful".

This county has a population of 78,773, so I don't think dispatch was super busy dealing with other "home invasions"

I wonder if homeowner/s followed up after the shooting to call 911 to get EMS on the way and to alert police that they were arriving to the scene of the shooting.