A man was arrested after he fatally shot his estranged girlfriend near a Haines City restaurant on Sunday morning, the police department said.
Haines City officers said they were called to a shooting near La Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant around 10:55 a.m., where a 29-year-old woman was reportedly shot.
Officers said they received several 911 calls, including one from the victim who described the suspect as the father of her children and estranged boyfriend of seven years, Rolando Guevara Zarate.
Police said they found the woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at the scene. Witnesses told officers that the suspect was driving a burgundy Ford Mustang. Haines City officers said they issued a “be on the lookout” to surrounding agencies while they provided first aid to the victim. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died.
At 11:18 a.m., a Winter Haven Police Department K-9 officer spotted a vehicle matching the description. With help from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, the car was stopped but the suspect fled on foot.
The suspect was eventually apprehended by Winter Haven police officers. Police said the suspect’s vehicle was seized for evidence and they found a rifle inside the car.
“This is a tragic and needless loss of life! Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones,” said Chief Greg Goreck. “I commend the coordinated efforts of our officers and the cooperation with the Winter Haven Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the swift apprehension of a suspect we believe to have carried out these heinous acts.”
According to police, Zarate confessed to the crime, saying that he was concerned the victim was going to take their children from him. He also admitted to disposing of the firearm he used, while driving away from the scene. A weapon matching this description has since been recovered.
Haines City police said Zarate has a past allegation of domestic battery with the victim along with; possession of cocaine, DUI, possession of methamphetamine, violation of injunction, battery, aggravated battery and several misdemeanor traffic charges.
Zarate was arrested and is being charged with first-degree murder, aggravated stalking, violation of an injunction for protection against domestic violence, discharging a firearm in public, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
The investigation is ongoing.
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Source: wfla
