After the 15-year-old allegedly shot another adolescent earlier this month after an altercation over a girl, a mother in Florida who is 37 years old is accused of assisting her son in evading law enforcement authorities. The incident occurred during the first month of the previous month.
Cindy Mishelle Paniagua was brought into jail on Wednesday and charged with one count of accessory after the fact involving a child, which is a felony, according to the announcement made by the concerned authorities. On March 11, Jonathan Enrique Valerio Paniagua, the son of the defendant, turned himself in to the authorities without any resistance. In connection with the alleged shooting that resulted in the victim suffering injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening, he is being charged with one count of attempted murder in addition to one count of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.
Following the arrest of the son, Sheriff Rick Ramsay issued a statement in which he stated, “I will not tolerate violent crime in this community regardless of the age of the offender.”
Additional charges against Jonathan Paniagua may be pending, according to the sheriff’s office, which added those charges.
At approximately 9:50 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025, deputies responded to a 911 report regarding shots fired at Key Largo Community Park, which is located in the 500 block of St. Croix Place in Key Largo. This information was provided in a press release issued by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
First responders reported that “no one with knowledge of the call could be located on scene” when they arrived at the scene of the incident.
“A short time later, a 16-year-old male victim with a minor/grazing gunshot wound to the hand as well as injuries to his legs from cell phone shrapnel caused by a bullet was treated at Mariners Hospital in Tavernier before he was airlifted to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami via Trauma Star,” the release states. “The victim was taken to the hospital by helicopter.” The Sheriff’s Office Dive Team subsequently discovered a wallet containing identifying information for Jonathan Enrique Valerio Paniagua in a nearby canal. Additionally, the wallet included clothing that matched the description of the suspect’s clothing.
Cindy Paniagua is said to have scooped up her kid and “helped him flee the area” after the incident, according to the authorities.
It was alleged by the sheriff’s office that “multiple witnesses stated that she refused to contact law enforcement knowing that her son shot the other juvenile and instructed others to not call 911 or notify law enforcement.” According to the findings of the investigation, an argument regarding a girl may have occurred before to the occurrence.
On the other hand, Cindy Paniagua and her son are originally from Homestead, Florida, which is located around thirty miles to the north of Key Largo Community Park.
After the arrest, Sheriff Rick Ramsay issued a statement in which he said, “This young man had the potential to ruin his life by attempting to take another life, and unfortunately, his mother tried to help him get away with it.” For other parents, Mrs. Paniagua serves as a poor example, and the steps she took only served to make the situation even more difficult.
Following the posting of a bond in the amount of $50,000, Cindy Paniagua was freed from custody. It is currently set for her to appear in court for her arraignment on May 13, 2025, according to the records currently available.
