A Florida woman claimed that God told her to go on a shooting spree during the solar eclipse this week. The shooting came amid wider concerns during the solar eclipse as it became a major event across the country.
Taylon Nichelle Celestine, aged 22, said that she was driven by the eclipse and an alleged message from Heaven. The woman started shooting near a highway, firing at two people. The woman allegedly told nearby hotel staff that she was directed by “God” due to the eclipse.
Celestine was allegedly driving a purple Dodge Challenger on I-10 before opening fire and striking a car several times. One person was injured in the shooting.
The first shooting occurred after Celestine traveled on Interstate 10 for about five miles.
“The driver was struck by glass fragments from the window and grazed on the arm by a bullet; however, he was able to steer his vehicle onto the shoulder of the road, away from the suspect,” said the Florida Highway Patrol.
After driving further the woman allegedly opened fire on another car, hitting a man in the neck. He required treatment in a hospital due to the shooting.
The alleged shooter was stopped by the Florida Highway Patrol at a traffic stop where she was arrested. Celestine was captured with an AR-15 rifle and a pistol.
Woman shoots 2 drivers on I-10 in Florida after telling hotel staff she was going on a shooting spree 'directed by God because of the eclipse,' police say pic.twitter.com/MAiMfYQI0J
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The suspect was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and improper discharge of a firearm.
Police are still investigating the incident, including an allegation that Celestine said that she “was God” prior to the event.
The woman is now in custody in the Holmes County Jail.
The shooting came while millions of Americans were watching the eclipse, which passed over a significant part of the country. Millions more traveled to the zone where the moon completely passed in front of the sun.
For some Americans, it was the first total eclipse over their part of the country in more than four decades.
