Cleaning Crew Member Fatally Shot After Mistakenly Approaching Wrong Home in Indiana

A 32-year-old woman was fatally shot in Whitestown, Indiana, after her cleaning crew mistakenly arrived at the wrong address, prompting an ongoing police investigation.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in a Whitestown subdivision, approximately 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a possible home invasion shortly before 7 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the woman deceased on the front porch with a gunshot wound. The shot had been fired from inside the residence, according to Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Capt. John Jurkash.

"It was later determined that the individuals attempting to enter the home were members of a cleaning crew who had mistakenly arrived at the wrong address," the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department stated, adding that "the facts gathered do not support" that a home invasion occurred.

The Boone County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez of Indianapolis. She died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Velasquez's husband, Mauricio Velasquez, who was present during the incident, recounted the events to local media. He described how his wife took two steps back after being shot, appeared to have been hit in the head, and then fell into his arms, bleeding profusely. The couple had been cleaning homes for seven months and have four children, the youngest being 11 months old.

The investigation remains ongoing. Capt. Jurkash mentioned that detectives are working to "unravel what exactly happened and if applicable what charges there would be." The police department is collaborating closely with the Boone County Prosecutor's Office to ensure the case is handled with care and diligence, noting that an update will be provided next week due to the complexity of the investigation.

The Boone County Prosecutor's Office is still determining whether the shooter will face any charges.