What started as a routine handoff of an infant in a Palm Springs parking lot turned into a road-rage gunfire incident that now has a West Palm Beach woman jailed on a $100,000 bond. Police say the driver pulled a handgun during a confrontation outside McKenna's Place on June 7, loaded it in front of bystanders that included a baby, waved it around, then fired a single shot before speeding away.
What police say
According to CBS12, Palm Springs police were called to the McKenna's Place restaurant plaza after reports of one gunshot. Investigators say 38-year-old Jessica Piltz was backing out of a parking space when she started yelling at a family that was transferring an infant and baby supplies between two vehicles. The arrest report described by the station says witnesses heard Piltz shout "come get it" and "you are not about that life, I am" before she grabbed a handgun, inserted a magazine, racked the slide, and fired one round while waving the weapon.
Scene and charges in court records
BocaNewsNow, citing a probable cause affidavit filed June 8, reports that Piltz is charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of discharging a firearm from a vehicle. The affidavit states that all four adult witnesses picked Piltz out of a photo lineup, and one told officers she appeared intoxicated before driving off north on Kirk Road. McKenna's Place is listed at 4068 Forest Hill Blvd in Wood Haven Plaza, the shopping center where the disturbance took place.
Legal implications
Palm Springs officials say Piltz is facing five felony counts and is being held by the department, and CBS12 reports she was booked on a $100,000 bond. Under Florida law, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is defined as a third-degree felony under Florida Statutes §784.021. Discharging a firearm from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person falls under §790.15 and can also be charged as a felony. Those sections outline the potential prison time and fines prosecutors could pursue if the State Attorney files formal charges and the case moves forward in court.
Police follow-up
The Palm Springs Police Department says the investigation is still active and that witness accounts were key to identifying the suspect, according to court documents. The Village of Palm Springs website lists contact information and the department's address at 226 Cypress Lane for anyone who has additional tips or video from the parking lot around the time of the incident.
