Armed Orlando Woman Threatens Church Shooting

In recent months, there have been far too many tragic news reports about mass shootings in public places. In June, a church in Orlando, Florida nearly got added to that list when a woman arrived at Sunday service with a gun and two loaded magazines. 

Sunday church-goers found Ileana Ivette Munizpou inside her car wearing a veil in the church parking lot. She questioned whether they were the pastor or “the son of God” and informed them of her intent to kill someone inside the church and that “someone else was on the way to do more shooting.” To protect themselves and other patrons, witnesses restrained Munizpou using reasonable force until authorities arrived.

Guns and Multiple Rounds of Ammunition Found

While attempting to restrain Munizpou, witnesses struggled to wrestle the gun away from her. Once officers arrived on the scene, Munizpou told officers she was a Florida State Trooper. She was fully restrained and officers were able to confiscate her gun. Inside her vehicle, they located two loaded magazines. 

Gun-Wielding Woman Faces Multiple Charges

In the process of restraining Munizpou, she injured multiple witnesses. She was then taken to the hospital because she claimed she was hurt while being put into handcuffs. At the hospital, she kicked an officer in the head. 

As a result of her actions, Munizpou was jailed and charged with seven crimes. The main charge Munizpou faces is aggravated assault with a firearm. Authorities were able to charge her with this crime because of her stated intent to conduct violence with a deadly weapon. In addition to the aggravated assault charge, Munizpou was also charged with possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, falsely impersonating an officer, resisting an officer with violence, resisting an officer without violence, and battery on law enforcement. 

Florida Gun Laws

Florida is a concealed carry state, meaning that residents with the proper permit and training are able to carry a concealed handgun. It’s important for all citizens to note, however, that once a person intends to use any firearm for harm, their ownership becomes unlawful and their firearm is open to seizure from law enforcement officials. 

In the case of Ms. Munizpou, although she had a permit to carry a firearm, the fact that she verbally threatened a crowd and was carrying it openly with the intent to commit a crime opened her up to criminal charges. If Munizpou is convicted, she will be prohibited by state law from possessing or carrying any type of firearm in the future.

Knowledgeable Firearm Offense Attorneys Near You

If you’ve been charged with any firearm offenses in the state of Florida, it’s imperative to know your rights and obtain an attorney. A trusted attorney who is experienced in firearm cases can create a knowledgeable defense that will stand up in court.

At The Umansky Law Firm, we have more than 35 years of experience defending firearm charges. We are highly rated by our clients and will do whatever it takes to build a case that works for you. To talk to a knowledgeable firearm offense attorney today, call our office or use our online contact form. We promise you won’t regret contacting a lawyer who cares about you.