Things are not bright in the sunshine state. In early September, residents of several parts of the state of Florida grapple with the aftermath of hurricane Idalia. The category three hurricane caused flooding in communities along the western coast of the state before eventually striking land in Taylor county. The estimated damaged in insured losses in the region is estimated between three and five billion dollars. While a large part of the north western region of the state grapples with the situation, tragic news was reported in another region of the state after a teacher was killed in a murder-suicide episode.
Maria Cruz de la Cruz, aged 51, taught mathematics at Doral Academy, a kindergarten through eighth grade charter school near Miami. She had been employed at the academy for almost ten years at the time of her death. On Friday, September 1st at around 4:20 pm, de la Cruz was found mortally wounded inside a residence in Palmetto Estates. Another unnamed male victim was also shot by the perpetrator; his condition is unknown. De la Cruz was transported to the hospital following the incident, where she perished. Another female individual was inside the home when the attack occurred; miraculously, she was unharmed. A GoFundMe has been established for De la Cruz following her death, which had raised over $22,000 for the family as of September 3rd. The principal of the school, Eleanora Cuesta released a statement reporting on the passing of De la Cruz. Unfortunately, the state of Florida is often associated with manic and tragic events; the term “Florida man” is an internet joke. In no laughable manner, last week a 15-year old from Escambia county was charged with murder after killing her mother’s fiancé.
Domestic violence is not the only arena in which tensions are high in America. In the political sphere, a former chief of staff aide in the Trump administration was shot in the head.
