NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Pasco County deputies are searching for a man who they said broke into a home and shot a woman overnight in New Port Richey.
The shooting happened around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday in the Menifee Court area, according to the sheriff's office.
A woman was asleep on a couch in the front room of a New Port Richey home when she heard a knock at the door. Then, a man wearing a black skull mask kicked in the door and pointed a gun at her, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a Tuesday morning news conference.
The man went into a room where another woman was lying in bed with two children under 12, Nocco said.
"Don't shoot me," she reportedly said, as the man pointed the gun at her.
The man fired one round at the woman, knocking her to the ground, Nocco said. He then fired another round, shooting her before walking out of the apartment, the sheriff added.
First responders provided immediate aid to the woman and then took her to the hospital, where she died from her injuries.
“For these young kids, I can imagine they were out last night trick-or-treating," Nocco said. "I can imagine they went to bed a little bit later like all the kids did last night. But to be woken up by this. To have a suspect walk in, turn that light on and shoot the person in the bed with them — it’s horrific. That’s the only word I can think of."
Now, deputies are searching for the man who they said shot and killed the woman after breaking into the home.
Nocco said deputies believe this was a targeted attack as the man seemed to know the layout of the house. It is not clear what the relationship is between the man and woman.
The sheriff's office said it is offering mental health counseling for the two children and the other woman who was home at the time of the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to submit tips to the PCSO Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 or online.