The Tamarac community in South Florida is mourning the loss of three residents after a tragic triple shooting. Locals gathered at a candlelight memorial to honor 34-year-old Mary Catherine Gingles, her 64-year-old father David Ponzer, and their 36-year-old neighbor Andrew Ferrin, according to WSVN. The memorial offered an opportunity for the community to unite and show strength in the face of the tragedy, as noted by speakers at the event.
The accused, Nathan Gingles, a U.S. Army veteran, allegedly killed his estranged wife, her father, and then targeted a neighbor who had provided refuge for Mary. The community also took a moment of silence for 4-year-old Seraphine, Mary’s daughter, who witnessed the killings and was briefly abducted by her father but was later found unharmed. "We’re all broken, everybody. That’s all everybody is talking about. Everybody’s upset, whether you knew them or not; they’re still humans," a resident told WSVN.
A vigil, organized by neighborhood resident Haylee Shrimpton, brought people together to process the shocking events, as reported by NBC Miami. Shrimpton said that the vigil was important for honoring the lives lost.
A neighbor, speaking to Hoodline, shared that the family had recent troubles, including an earlier incident when Nathan tried to enter their home through a window with a ladder.
As per NBC Miami, seven Broward Sheriff's Office deputies were placed on administrative leave following Sheriff Gregory Tony’s comments criticizing the response as a "piss-poor performance."
