A Miami-Dade mother faces multiple charges after police say she accidentally shot her teenage daughter following a heated argument outside a McDonald's. Melissa Valbrum, 32, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, and culpable negligence inflicting personal injury, as reported by CBS News Miami.
The incident occurred on Friday night after Valbrum became involved in an altercation with a Lyft driver and passengers over a misunderstood gesture that was intended to signal the arrival of their ride, during which Valbrum allegedly threatened to "shoot and kill" them while pointing the gun in their direction, according to CBS News Miami. Valbrum's daughter was then inadvertently shot in the shoulder as the Lyft drove away, the accidental discharge occurring after a gun purportedly fell from Valbrum's waistband, as mentioned in the arrest affidavit obtained by Local 10 News.
The 15-year-old was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in stable condition, as per NBC Miami. Surveillance and phone video footage reviewed by police appear to show Valbrum with a firearm in hand, gesturing aggressively at the Lyft's rear passenger window, where the altercation took place.
Following her arrests, Valbrum was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with Miami-Dade correctional deputies charging her on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of battery, and one count of culpable negligence inflicting personal injury, the information coming from Miami-Dade County inmate records. The Miami-Dade Police Department has urged anyone with further information about the incident to contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477, as achieving a comprehensive understanding of the event is crucial in the pursuit of justice and community safety.
