MIAMI (WSVN) - A woman was arrested after, police said, she threatened to shoot another parent during a drop-off dispute at a Miami elementary school on the first day of classes for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
According to an arrest report, Erika Letisha Cruz, 39, was dropping off her child at Arcola Lake Elementary on Thursday when she exchanged words with a mother walking her disabled son to school.
The victim told police Cruz honked at her, “shouted ‘hurry the [expletive] up from her vehicle,” bumped her with her vehicle, then got out carrying a purse and said, “Say one more word and I am going to shoot you in the face,” according to the report.
“I think that’s ridiculous, what’s going on, these kids out here, they got to go through that,” said Janey Nelson-Walker, who was picking up her kids.
Officers said the victim feared for her and her son’s lives. Cruz then entered the school, where she was detained.
A search of her purse turned up a black Sig Sauer P238 handgun loaded with four .380-caliber rounds, investigators said.
She told officers she owned the gun but claimed she did not know it was in her purse. The weapon was seized as evidence.
Cruz faces charges of possessing a firearm on school property, aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated battery.
“My sister been coming here since they were kids and they’re 51 years old, my whole family coming here,” said Nelson-Walker. “They never had that kind of problem.”
On Friday, she appeared in bond court before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer.
“Ma’am, you were arrested for improper exhibition of a weapon on school property and aggravated assault with a firearm,” said Glazer. “So I will appoint the public defender’s office for you, so this was yesterday at an elementary school.”
The judge ordered Cruz to stay away from the victim.
“Oh boy, stay away from the alleged victim,” said Glazer. “All I can say is what a terrible way for your child to begin the first day of school with mom getting hauled off to jail.”
Bond has been set for two out of the three charges that Cruz faces; however, she will not be able to post bond until the third bond is finalized.
“You need to be an adult and set a good example,” said Glazer.
She is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
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