[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
A Florida man is accused of killing his daughter, her mother, and two other people in a horrific mass killing this week.
Domenico Gigante, a 36-year-old central Florida man (pictured above during a perp walk this week), has been arrested and is now facing four counts of murder after an unconscionable event early Wednesday morning. Mass murders could have been worse, if the minor had not called family members to report the sickening incident.
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According to Orlando Sentinel, the police in the small town of Rockledge were called about a murder in front of the city at about 1:55 on Saturday morning. The caller was not at the scene of the crime. However, the witness was called by a minor who lived in the house where the crime was committed. The caller told the police that the boy had told them those people a man shot a member of his family, and “his parents are dead”. Horrify.
The caller rushed to the crime scene when he heard that, and called the police at the same time to report the incident. When police arrived at the home moments later, they found four people — one teenager and three adults — dead from gunshot wounds. Two young children in the home, ages 6 and 9, were found unharmed. It is unclear which of the two children called their relative to report the incident. However, that quick thinking saved his young life.
Upon arrival, Rockledge police immediately identified the four deceased victims. They now believe two victims were particularly targeted in the attack: a 15-year-old Kiara Terwilligerand his mother, 35 years old Constance Terwilliger. The other two people who died in the house were identified as Glenda Terwilliger,63, and Michael Watson36.
The police arrived to find out that the young girl was the biological daughter of a 36-year-old man named Domenico Gigante. Last year, he had an affair with Constance, which led to the birth of Kiarra. But in recent years, the former couple’s co-parenting relationship has broken down, and Domenico seemed to harbor great frustration about it.
In the morning, the police began to search for Gigante’s place, then went to his house. There, Domenico’s roommate came forward with information. According to the newspaper, he told police Gigante had recently complained of “frustration with his daughter and his family.” On the night of the shooting, Domenico’s roommate told police, the man told him:
“I guess I’ll go over there and kill them all.”
After the shooting appeared, Domenico actually returned home – and allegedly confessed to his roommate openly that he had taken his three daughters.
OMG…
Police also took surveillance footage from cameras at the crime scene. They found a clip of Gigante arriving at the scene on Wednesday morning. Moments later, gunshots can be heard in the clip, as well as “screams” from people inside the house. Shortly after the shooting, police arrested Gigante at his home, thankfully without incident. Now, he faces four counts of first-degree murder in the horrific tragedy.
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In a video release to the media, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey described Gigante as well known to law enforcement in the area. The sheriff confirmed that he was a “very violent individual with a very violent past.” According to Sentinel, Gigante was arrested in 2005 for domestic violence and battery. He was arrested again in 2008 on multiple animal cruelty charges. And in 2012, he was arrested for aggravated assault and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Of the animal cruelty charges, Sheriff Ivey said:
“I have said this before: If you are the capacity of a person to harm an animal, you will harm a human being and this person is the real proof of that statement. He should never have been on the road to harm his family or anyone.
The Sheriff also offered his condolences to the loved ones of the victims amid the horrific scenario, including two children who were left at home unharmed during the traumatic incident:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this family as they face this most difficult time. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose an entire family in this capacity.
Here’s another on a tragic mass shooting, over Fox 35 Orlando (below):
It was a terrible and unbearable situation. We send our condolences to the loved ones of those lost in this despicable act – and to the young children who had to witness it.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Try calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or to https://www.thehotline.org/.
[Image via Fox 35 Orlando/YouTube]