Police: Mom shot, killed daughter after mistaking her for boyfriend

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A mother was arrested Tuesday on charges of killing her 25-year-old daughter at a Winter Haven home, authorities said.

Police said Adele Bing, 52, had an argument with her boyfriend, James Lane, earlier in the day and allegedly hit him with a gun.

Lane went to the hospital to be treated for his injuries when officers said they received a call about a shooting at Adele Bing's home.

Authorities said Ruby Bing went to visit her mother and knocked at her front door while holding her 4-month-old baby.

Police said Adele Bing was still upset about the argument she had with Lane and thought he was the person knocking. Investigators said she armed herself with a baseball bat and a handgun, and as she opened the door, she fired a shot, hitting her daughter in the upper chest.

"She did make a statement that she thought it was her boyfriend coming back and she thought he was going to harm her," said Winter Haven Police Capt. David Brannan.

The 4-month-old was not injured, but Ruby Bing died at the scene, authorities said.

Neighbor Sally Newcomb watched as police told the woman her daughter had died.

"She screamed, dropped to the ground and screamed," said Newcomb.

Family and friends said they don't believe the killing was intentional.

"I don't believe for a minute that she wanted to kill her daughter," said family friend Chrissy Ritch.

"She would never do anything to Ruby. Ruby was her everything," said friend Carolyn Farmer.

"I'm very upset for them because she was a nice girl," said Ritch. "I never saw her fight with her mother or anything like that."

Police said Adele Bing was charged with second-degree murder and child abuse without great bodily harm.

So far, police have not found any evidence of any turmoil between the woman and her daughter.

Bing is being held in the Polk County Jail.

WFTV