In a tragic incident, a Florida woman was shot and killed by her boyfriend.
Authorities said the victim was identified as Heather Rivenbark, 41. She was shot multiple times in the chest.
The arrest affidavit was filed against Rivenbark’s boyfriend, 33-year-old Christopher Pequeen.
He faces the death penalty after being charged with capital murder in Rivenbark’s death.
The shooting was Sunday morning in Bartow following an argument between Pequeen and Rivenbark. They recently moved in with Higgins (Rivenbark’s friend) and her boyfriend, Michael Beam, 41.
According to the affidavit, Rivenbark went to Higgins and Beam’s bedroom after the argument and said she was scared Pequeen was going to kill her.
She was sitting on the bed, googling how to obtain an order of protection when Pequeen came in with a gun and shot her. It says Pequeen then shot Higgins as she appeared to try to shield Rivenbark from being shot again.
Beam, who was also in the bedroom, as telling investigators that after Higgins was shot, Pequeen pointed the gun back at Rivenbank. Beam said he grabbed his girlfriend and ran to a neighbor’s home where they called 911.
“This is an example of how horrific domestic violence can become. Christopher Pequeen is a coward and a murderer. We will do everything we can to make sure justice is done in this case,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
