A 44-year-old man was arrested by Kissimmee police on Friday for his alleged involvement in a “celebratory gunfire” incident on New Year’s Day that left one woman dead.
According to the Kissimmee Police Department, officers responded to a home located in the 2300 block of Gull Court at around 12:02 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1, after receiving reports that an individual had been shot.
When officers arrived at the home, they found a woman – later identified as 56-year-old Carmen Rosa Neira Ochoa – who had sustained injuries that were consistent with a gunshot wound.
Ochoa was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
KPD launched an extensive homicide investigation, which led detectives to identifying Carlos Manuel Tejada as the suspected gunman in this case.
On Friday, January 17, Tejada was arrested and transported to Osceola County Jail. He is being charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence in the death of Ochoa.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
On the day of Tejada’s arrest, KPD released the following statement: “The Kissimmee Police Department would like to express its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them as we work to bring justice in this case.”
The police department continued by stating, “Celebratory gunfire poses a significant threat to our community. We continue to emphasize the importance of celebrating responsibly and educating the public that shooting a gun in the air is dangerous and illegal. If celebratory gunfire is observed or heard, it should be reported immediately to law enforcement.”