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According to the Manatee County Sheriff, Rick Wells, the homeowner acted decisively, understanding the imminent danger as one masked suspect made his way into their home. A confrontation ensued, with gunshots reported by nearby neighbors. In the chaos, 27-year-old Jorge Esteban Flores Toledo, who had entered the U.S. from Mexico, sustained injuries and later succumbed to them.
Criminal Background of the Suspects
As the investigation unfolded, authorities discovered troubling details about the suspects. Flores Toledo went by the name Anabel Miller Valencia and had prior criminal issues, having been arrested for burglary in Illinois. His accomplice, 39-year-old Michelle Soto Mello, had also entered the U.S. on an expired 90-day visa from Chile, just days prior to the incident.