PALM BAY, Fla. – A man arrested earlier this week in Palm Bay is accused of attacking and shooting at woman who mistakenly walked up to his home, according to police.
Roman Rawicki, 50, faces charges of false imprisonment, discharging a firearm in public, battery with bodily harm, and two counts each of attempted murder, criminal mischief above $1,000, child neglect without great bodily harm and contributing to the dependency of a child, booking records show.
Officers responded Sunday to a shooting reported at a home in the 2000 block of Clover Street NE, where Rawicki had called 911 and confirmed he was the shooter, according to his probable cause affidavit. Rawicki told police about his “no soliciting” sign, yet also “expressed understanding that (one of the victims) was at the wrong house by mistake,” the affidavit states.
That victim told police she was following someone else to their home for the first time and mistakenly found herself at Rawicki’s residence, not realizing it until she had already begun walking up his driveway. Rawicki — who was in the driveway with his wife and two children — then grabbed the victim’s arm and wrist, leaving bruises after “restraining her by holding her arm behind her back in an arm lock,” police said.
The victim said that she called out to the other person she was in the neighborhood with, adding Rawicki then threw her to the ground as that person ran toward them.
Rawicki allegedly retreated, retrieved a firearm and started shooting at the two victims after they got into a vehicle, police said.
The victims told police that they felt the vehicle be struck multiple times. A total of 17 shell casings were found at the scene, police said.
Rawicki told police that he believed the victim was a prostitute and said that he attacked and shot at her “out of fear for his wife’s safety” without elaborating further, the report states. He has since posted a nearly $160,000 bond, records show.