PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/Gray Media) – Florida authorities say a mother was killed in a road rage shooting over the weekend, along with her daughter being critically injured.
According to the Panama City Police Department, officers were called about a shooting on Highway 231 and Harrison Avenue at about 4:15 p.m. Saturday.
First responders said the victims of the shooting, later identified as 48-year-old Georgeann Garner and her 19-year-old daughter Marileigh Lewis, were treated for their injuries at the scene.
Good Samaritans also jumped in to help.
However, Garner could not be saved and was pronounced dead after she was transported to the hospital.
The woman’s daughter was also taken to the hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
An officer who was on patrol nearby said they heard the shooting and chased a truck leaving the scene.
Officers said the truck did not yield for them and ended up ramming a police vehicle before coming to a stop.
The driver of the truck was identified as 21-year-old Ivybella Encino. Jubal Simmons, 23, was a passenger in the vehicle and tried to run away before police said they were able to catch him.
Authorities said Encino and Simmons got upset over traffic that night and were verbally assaulting those traveling in Garner’s vehicle.
The situation then escalated to a physical altercation between Lewis and Encino before everyone got back into their vehicles.
But the ordeal didn’t end, investigators said Encino drove around the victim’s vehicle and Simmons fired around 11 rounds, hitting Garner and Lewis in the chest.
Police said the shooting was a road rage situation and that everyone involved did not know each other.
Loved ones described Garner as a “beautiful soul” who was out celebrating her 48th birthday that night.
“She was taken from us far too quickly and her life was ended by ruthless people with road rage whose hearts were full of hate,” Sandra Pearson shared through a GoFundMe. “The world was robbed of her beauty on her birthday.”
Panama City police said Encino is facing charges that include accessory to murder and driving on a suspended/revoked license.
Simmons’ charges include murder and attempted murder, along with tampering with evidence.
Pearson said Garner’s daughter remains hospitalized and has been on a ventilator since the shooting. She has started fundraising efforts to assist the family in Garner’s memory who was a single mother of two children.
“Burial expenses are costly and the children have been living with zero life insurance to help offset these costs,” Pearson shared. “The family may also need help getting justice for Georgeann and Marileigh.”
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