St. Cloud Police are investigating a fatal shooting that took place in a home Saturday night in the Hanover Lakes community, where they say a domestic dispute resulted in the death of a woman.
Jose Manuel Otero-Fontanez, 48, was arrested on Saturday for the shooting death of his wife, according to a news release from the St. Cloud Police Department. He faces charges of first-degree murder.
At 6:21 p.m., officers responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a heated domestic argument at a home in the Hanover Lakes Community off of Hickory Tree Rd. on Nottel Drive. As St. Cloud police approached the front entry of the home, they were met with gunfire from inside. Rather than returning fire, the officers deployed a drone to evaluate the situation, which also came under fire from the suspect.
A crisis negotiator managed to reach the suspect by phone and successfully persuaded him to surrender. Once inside the home, police discovered the body of a woman in a bathroom. Two children—a 10-year-old and a 24-year-old were present in the house during the incident but were unharmed. They were believed to have made a 9-11 call.
“Although we are very early in the investigation, the crime that occurred here tonight is tragic and senseless,” said Chief Douglas Goerke. “Our hearts go out to the children who lost one of their parents here tonight. We will be working with them to ensure they receive the resources they need to cope with this devastating event.”
According to police, the investigation remains active, and authorities are expected to release additional details later this weekend.
