Mom charged with premeditated murder in shooting death of son

Son found dead at home after relative calls in well-being check

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – A mother has been charged with murder after Altamonte Springs police say she shot and killed her son in the shower on Tuesday afternoon.

The son, identified as Blake Howard, 29, was found dead Tuesday at a home on Post Oak Circle near Maitland Avenue and East Altamonte Drive.

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Virginia Arteaga, 59, has been charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of her son. 

Altamonte Springs police Lt. Rob Pelton told News 6 that a family member called police saying there was concern about Howard's safety.

"The son was shot multiple times while in the shower. One of the family relatives knew there was some type of disturbance, called and asked that we respond to the residence to check on his well being," said Lt. Rob Pelton. "The caller had spoken directly to the mother and that mother said some things to her, which is a part of the investigation that led her to believe, hey something is not right. Blake is in danger or is not OK."

Pelton said officers went to the home, and a woman inside, later identified as Arteaga, refused to answer the door. Pelton said officers forced entry into the home and found Howard dead.

Arteaga was arrested and taken into custody for questioning. Police have not said what the ongoing conflict between the mother and son was.

It's not known how long Howard had been dead, Pelton said. Howard was removed from the home Tuesday night.

Police said there have been no other calls to the home in the past.

No other details are immediately known.

Watch News 6 and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.


About the Author:

Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009. When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com, Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby.