Cops: Woman shot by boyfriend during argument dies in hospital

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County mother died in a hospital Monday after she was shot by her boyfriend, Eloy Montanez, deputies said.

Officers said Montanez, 31, admitted to shooting Emily Baquerizo, and he also apologized.

He said the shooting in their Bithlo home was over petty disagreements, deputies said.

"It's just a shame. It really is. It's just a shame," said neighbor Kevin McCormick.

One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said the trouble began when Baquerizo got into a fight with a neighbor and deputies were called out to break it up.

When the deputies left, neighbors said Baquerizo was still angry.

"She went in to grab the gun and go after the neighbor and everything escalated from there," the neighbor said.

Witnesses said inside their home, Baquerizo and Montanez argued for a short time about the issue. Then they heard a gunshot. Deputies returned and arrested Montanez.

"I was sleeping when this first happened, and I came out to find out what was going on, and she had apparently been shot in the face," said the neighbor.

Neighbors said they had seen violence at the house before.

"He chased her down the road with a stick. Deputies came and arrested him. She left with the kids, but came back the next day," said the neighbor.

The children are in the Department of Children and Families' custody.

WFTV