Motorcyclist who followed a pregnant woman to her home after a ‘traffic confrontation’ only to shoot her dead will not face any charges
The man who reportedly followed a pregnant woman to her home following a traffic confrontation only to shoot her dead will not face any charges, court records say. The family of the pregnant library assistant who was shot dead by a motorcyclist, after he reportedly followed her home following a traffic skirmish, have expressed disbelief after Florida authorities decided against pursuing criminal charges against the bike rider.
On November 20, the 40-year-old motorcyclist, Andrew Derr, reportedly shot and killed 35-year-old Sara-Nicole Morales outside her mother’s house. The 40-year-old man reportedly told investigators that the pregnant woman pointed a gun at him. Two other men said the librarian was waving the gun around, according to reports.
The victim’s family said Morales was pregnant and engaged to be married.
On Tuesday, the Assistant State Attorney Shorstein announced that Derr would not be charged, per reports.
Assistant State Attorney Shorstein reportedly said: “The State Attorney’s Office has completed a comprehensive review of this case. The police department concluded, after a thorough investigation, that the suspect would not be charged with a crime. While the facts in this case are truly heartbreaking, the law does not authorize the filing of any criminal charges. Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to the Morales family.”
The 40-year-old suspect has a concealed weapons permit, according to the police department.
Doreen Flaherty, the victim’s mother, reportedly said at the time of the fatal shooting, her daughter had grabbed her fiancé’s gun after becoming frightened when she noticed the motorcyclist had followed her to the residence.
The victim’s mother also said that Derr should not have followed her daughter home.
Doreen Flaherty reportedly said: “If he had not followed her in the first place there would have been no need for him to feel the need to defend himself.”
Police officials said the traffic incident occurred when the motorcyclist reportedly tried to pass the pregnant woman, only to move her car into his lane, causing him to swerve. The motorcyclist then reportedly became aggressive, yelling and waving as he continued to ride next to the victim’s vehicle.
The pregnant woman reportedly swerved her car at the biker and her vehicle struck the motorcycle’s saddle bag, leaving a scuff mark. The motorcyclist hen kicked Morales’ car.
Then, the motorcyclist and two other individuals followed the woman to her home. The other two men were waiting in the road near her house, prosecutors said.
The pregnant woman ran into her house and came back out with a gun. The motorcyclist then pulled his .45-caliber pistol and shot her dead, per reports.
The 40-year-old motorcyclist, Andrew Derr, reportedly told investigators: “She came toward us and when she was about 15 feet away she raised a gun at me. It was pointed at me. I was scared to death and immediately drew my firearm and defended myself.”
One of the other two men who followed the victim, Nicolas Hirst, reportedly told investigators: “She then pulled out a gun and waved it at the three of us. I stepped back, said ‘calm down’ and before I knew it, the male motorcyclist drew his gun and shot the female what sounded like five times.”
Authorities said the victim’s 11-year-old daughter was inside the house and heard the gunshots that took her mother’s life. This story will be updated as new information become available.