Inset: Gabriella Nascimento (Pinellas County Jail). Background: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Administration Building where Gabriella Nascimento allegedly shot her father (WTSP/YouTube).
A Florida woman allegedly shot her own dad in the back outside a sheriff’s office on Sunday, blasting him in front of his younger kids during a child custody exchange with his estranged wife, police say.
Gabriella Nascimento, 28, is charged with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly trying to gun down her father, Rogerio Nascimento, outside the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Administration Building, where he and his wife were meeting to exchange custody of the four minor children they share together, the sheriff’s office reports.
“During the exchange, Rogerio, his sister, and his estranged wife were standing outside their vehicles in the parking lot, conversing,” PCSO officials said in a press release. “Detectives say three of the four children were reportedly hesitant to exit the vehicle.”
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It was around 9:04 a.m. when Rogerio Nascimento arrived at the administration building and met his wife, according to police. Gabriella Nascimento showed up after the children became hesitant to exit the estranged wife’s vehicle, the sheriff’s office reports. Rogerio and the wife were talking with his sister when the shooting happened.
“The suspect, 28-year-old Gabriella Nascimento, arrived separately, exited her vehicle, and joined the conversation in the parking lot,” PCSO officials said. “Shortly after her arrival, Gabriella approached Rogerio with a semi-automatic firearm and shot him in the back. Rogerio ran toward the front lobby of the Sheriff’s Administration Building, and Gabriella chased after him on foot, shooting at him a second time, but missed.”
More from Law&Crime: ‘A bad situation’: Child custody exchange turns deadly as mom guns down her kid’s dad in broad daylight, cops say
Rogerio Nascimento tried scampering into the front lobby and asking for help, according to police, while Gabriella allegedly “fell on the sidewalk, placed the firearm on the ground, and stood” near the parking lot until deputies took her into custody. Rogerio was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition after being shot twice.
Gabriella was being held at the Pinellas County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday. A motive has not been released for the shooting by police.
