A man in Florida has been charged with murder after police say he shot a woman 17 times as she walked up his driveway by mistake.
The Palm Bay Police Department reported that Roman Rawicki, 50, was arrested this week on charges of attempted murder, false imprisonment, criminal mischief, battery, and discharging a firearm on residential property.
According to his arrest affidavit, a woman told police she was following an acquaintance home for the first time on Sunday when she became disoriented and ended up at Rawicki’s home in Palm Bay, about 75 miles southeast of Orlando.
The woman claimed she walked up the driveway and realized she was at the wrong address, at which point Rawicki grabbed her arm and wrist, “restraining her by holding her arm behind her back in an arm lock, against her will,” the affidavit states. The woman, identified as TP in the affidavit, was able to contact the person, identified as WP, whom she had been following, according to the affidavit, and WP ran to her aid.
Rawicki then threw the woman to the ground and retrieved a firearm, firing multiple times at the two people who had just entered the woman’s vehicle, according to the affidavit. They told police that the vehicle had been hit several times. According to the report, 17 shell casings were discovered in front of the home.
Rawicki told police that he believed the woman was a sex worker and attacked her out of concern for his wife’s safety, according to the affidavit. Police said they found video footage of the woman approaching the house in “a non-threatening manner before the attack.”
According to police, Rawicki called 911 on a recorded line, confirmed he was the shooter, stated that he has a “no soliciting” sign on his property, and understood the woman had come to his house by mistake.
The woman’s arm and wrist were bruised as a result of the physical altercation, and her bracelet was broken, police said. One of her tires went flat, causing additional damage to her vehicle, according to police.
Rawicki was released on bond on Wednesday. According to the terms of his release, he is not permitted to contact the two individuals and is prohibited from possessing firearms, weapons, or ammunition. Rawicki couldn’t be reached at the cell phone number listed for him. His attorney did not immediately return a phone call or an email requesting comment.
