Cleaning Worker Fatally Shot on Front Porch After Mistaken Address Visit
The incident occurred in Whitestown, Indiana, where officers responded to reports shortly before 7:00 a.m. at a home on a residential street. On the front porch of the property, they discovered Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez de Velásquez, age 32, suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency responders were called, but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the investigation by the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department, the victim and her husband had gone to the house believing it to be the location of a cleaning job. She was holding the keys and attempting to open the door when the gunfire struck. It was later determined that the home belonged to someone else and the cleaning crew had mistakenly arrived at the wrong address.
Maria Ríos Pérez de Velásquez was a mother of four children, with ages reported to be between infancy and the teen years. Her husband, who accompanied her, said he watched as she collapsed into his arms when the shot hit her. Neighbours and family described her as a diligent worker, someone committed to supporting her family through honest means. She had immigrated from Guatemala and was living in Indianapolis, working alongside her husband in their home-cleaning business.
Authorities have indicated that the shot came from inside the residence they approached; no forced entry or evidence of burglary was found. The homeowner is under scrutiny, and the case has been submitted to the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office for review under Indiana’s laws governing self-defence and use of force in a dwelling. Those laws allow homeowners to use deadly force if they reasonably believe an unlawful entry is occurring. Regardless, investigators emphasise the unusual and tragic nature of the situation, given that the people who arrived were there for a legitimate cleaning job—but at the wrong location.
Detectives are gathering evidence including surveillance footage, doorbell camera imagery, phone records, and interviews with occupants of the residence, neighbours, and witnesses. They have urged the public not to speculate, as the details remain complex and the assessment of the homeowner’s legal justification is ongoing.
Following the incident, Maria’s family has launched a fundraiser to support her children and to repatriate her remains to Guatemala for burial according to family wishes. Friends and colleagues remembered her for her kindness, humility and her dedication to providing for her children. The loss has shocked the local cleaning-services community and highlighted the vulnerability of immigrant workers performing everyday jobs, often without a strong safety net.
In a statement, the Whitestown Police Department acknowledged the “profound tragedy” of the event, saying that they are committed to a “thorough and impartial investigation.” The Boone County Prosecutor stated that the case presents “difficult questions” about the line between lawful defence and unreasonable use of force. No formal charges have yet been filed as the review continues.
For now, the home where the shooting occurred remains a crime scene, and investigators continue to piece together exactly how a routine morning job turned into a fatal encounter. Maria’s children, family, friends and co-workers are mourning her passing and hoping for answers and accountability. The incident stands as a sharp reminder of the fragility of life and the potentially devastating consequences of a simple mistake in address.
