ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Three people are in custody after one person was shot Thursday at Rodeway Inn on South Orange Blossom Trail, deputies said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said the 22-year-old victim, Jacob Soto, arrived at Rodeway Inn to buy marijuana.
Recommended Videos
Veronica Isabella, 36, came outside of Room 206 when Soto arrived and began berating him for making her wait, he told deputies. She then pulled him inside the room, where 23-year-old Rashard Seraaj and 17-year-old Lavonski Jones were waiting.
Isabella was the first to hit Soto in the back of the head, then Seraaj and Jones joined in, deputies said.
The victim was beaten and kicked by all three suspects and robbed of about $200 in cash while being held at gunpoint, according to the arrest affidavit.
Deputies said Soto was on the ground when Jones shot him in the back of the head. Isabella then ordered the two men to stop the attack and she got a towel to clean up Soto's wound before telling him to leave the hotel room, deputies said.
The bullet grazed the back of Soto's head, requiring several staples to close the wound. Soto also had "multiple battery injuries" including bruises and scrapes to his face, the report said.
"Soto's life was spared only by the trajectory of the round and its failure to penetrate his skull," a deputy wrote in his report.
After the shooting, deputies said Isabella disposed of a large, yellow backpack and small, yellow camera bag in two trash cans at the hotel. In the backpack, deputies found a black and silver 9 mm handgun; a magazine with ammunition for that gun; a .357-caliber revolver; marijuana, heroin and cocaine all packaged for individual sale; rifle-rated body armor and military-grade body armor.
The yellow camera bag contained about 19 grams of marijuana packaged in small quantities, the report said.
Inside the room deputies said they found a bullet hole in the carpet, a bullet, towels and linens with fresh blood, drug paraphernalia, an electronic scale and baggies.
All three suspects were arrested at the scene after Soto positively identified them.
Isabella and Seraaj were heard professing their love for each other through the interview door after they were taken to the Orange County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division. Isabella said she's pregnant with Seraaj's child.
Isabella, Seraaj and Jones all waived their Miranda rights, denying any involvement in the shooting, deputies said. They're all charged with attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm and robbery with a firearm.
The Sheriff's Office said additional charges were forthcoming.
Deputies are asking anyone with any information to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.