Woman said God told her to shoot at vehicles on I-10 in Florida during solar eclipse
A Georgia woman on Monday opened fire at two vehicles on Interstate 10 in the Florida Panhandle, injuring two motorists after telling hotel workers she was directed by God to go on a shooting spree in relation to the solar eclipse.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a report of an active shooter in Holmes County Monday, near Bonifay, Fla., about 50 miles north of Panama City.
Troopers were told the suspect was a female — later identified as 22-year-old Taylon Nichelle Celestine of Georgia — driving a purple Dodge Charger with Georgia license plates.
Celestine had just checked out of a hotel, telling workers there she was going on a shooting spree directed by God and related to the solar eclipse.
The FHP determined Celestine’s vehicle entered I-10, traveling west, and within five miles of entering the interstate she reportedly opened fire at another vehicle.
This photo provided by the Florida Highway Patrol shows several bullet holes in a vehicle which the FHP says were fired by a Georgia woman who said God directed her to go on a shooting spree.(Florida Highway Patrol)
Several rounds struck the vehicle, with the driver injured by glass fragments from a window and grazed on his arm by a bullet. He was nevertheless able to steer his vehicle off the roadway and onto the shoulder of the road, while the suspect continued on I-10, according to the FHP.
Still westbound, Celestine reportedly shot at another vehicle, this time striking the driver in the neck. That driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Troopers located Celestine about 10 miles from the scene of the second shooting and stopped the vehicle. Once Celestine was taken into custody, a search of her vehicle located an AR-15 rifle and a 9mm handgun.
Celestine has been booked into the Holmes Coty Jail, held without bond pending an initial court appearance. She is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and improper discharge of a firearm.
The FHP’s Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence is conducting the investigation.