Local

Altamonte Springs woman accused of killing son will appear in court Wednesday

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — An Altamonte Springs shot and killed her son while he was taking a shower, police said.

Altamonte Springs police said they arrived to find Virginia Arteaga, 59, armed with a handgun and Blake Howard, her son, dead in the shower Tuesday.

Police responded to the residence on Oak Harbour Drive after a family member called concerned that Howard, 26, didn't show up for work.

Police said no one answered the door when they arrived and they made a forced entry, which is when they found Arteaga.

%

INLINE

%

Howard was found dead in the shower with multiple gunshot wounds, according to authorities.

Police said they aren't sure when Howard was killed.

The family member who called police said there was a history of tension between Arteaga and Howard, but police have no record of an incident between the two.

A neighbor said she thought Arteaga lived alone and was worried about the mental health of the woman accused of pulling the trigger.

They said she recently became frail from a dramatic weight loss.

Police said Arteaga is cooperating and talking with investigators. She is charged with premeditated murder.