A Florida man who shot his mother to death during an argument with his father nearly five years ago tried unsuccessfully this week to use the state’s “stand your ground” law to have the charges dismissed.
Alexander Deltoro Jr., 32, is charged with manslaughter in the death of his mother, 60-year-old Cindy Gale Deltoro on December 14, 2019, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.
Deltoro Affidavit by kc wildmoon on Scribd
The family had been out to dinner that night for the son’s 28th birthday, and Deltoro and his father got into an argument on the way home. The argument escalated into pushing and shoving once they arrived back at the home, until Cindy Deltoro stepped between the combatting males and separated them.
Once separated from his father, her son pulled out a concealed handgun, aimed at his mother, and shot her in the face.
In court on Friday, the defendant argued that his glasses had fallen off and he couldn’t see, plus he was sure his father was also armed.
“He raised his fist at me like he was going to punch me,” he said. “He had me pushed against a wall. I saw his hand go into his pocket. I pretty much knew what he was going for.”
An affidavit said that Deltoro had tried to retrieve his gun before shooting his mother, but she got in between them before he could. Once the two men were separated, the document said, “the defendant produced the firearm, pointed in the direction of the victim and discharged a single round.”
The round struck Cindy Deltoro in the face. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
Deltoro also admitted that he did not have a permit to carry the concealed weapon but that he got “aggravated during the physical altercation and pulled out the firearm, but did not mean to discharge it,” the document said.
The judge found Deltoro’s claims to self-defense under the “stand your ground” law didn’t pass muster and ordered the case to move to trial.
