A late-night confrontation in Florida allegedly turned violent after a woman used her boyfriend’s location information to track him down and found him inside a parked car with another woman, according to investigators.
Katherine Kelly, 24, of Cocoa, is accused of firing a shot into a Volkswagen Passat during the early hours of October 24, 2026, striking the woman seated inside in the shoulder. The victim survived and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Investigators allege that Kelly traveled to the area in an Uber after becoming suspicious that her boyfriend was seeing the same woman he had allegedly been involved with previously. What followed has led to several serious criminal charges, including attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.
According to an arrest affidavit, Kelly initially described the shooting as self-defense but later allegedly admitted that she wanted to make a point because she believed her boyfriend was cheating on her again.
How the confrontation allegedly unfolded
The incident began around 1:20 a.m., when Kelly’s boyfriend met the woman in Port St. John, Florida. According to statements described in the affidavit, he picked her up from her home before the two drove to a friend’s residence.
They eventually parked in an open field near the property.
Meanwhile, Kelly allegedly received information that led her to believe her boyfriend was with the other woman. Investigators say she sent him a screenshot of his location, indicating that she knew where he was.
Her boyfriend reportedly checked Kelly’s own location and saw that she was traveling toward him from their residence.
According to the affidavit, he began driving around the Port St. John area in an attempt to avoid her. After some time, he backed the Volkswagen into a field near 6599 Bamboo Avenue and switched off the vehicle.
Police allege that Kelly eventually approached the parked car.
The affidavit states that she initially assumed her boyfriend was sitting in the driver’s seat. As she moved closer, the headlights came on and the vehicle began moving forward.
Investigators allege that Kelly then pulled a pink-and-black Glock 43 handgun from her purse, aimed toward the passenger side and fired a single round into the vehicle.
The bullet struck the woman in the shoulder.
The shooting prompted a police investigation that included interviews with Kelly, her boyfriend and the injured woman.
Messages allegedly showed growing anger
Investigators also reviewed text messages exchanged between Kelly and her boyfriend before the shooting.
According to the affidavit, the messages show Kelly repeatedly accusing him of infidelity and expressing anger about what she believed was happening.
In one message, she allegedly accused him of cheating again with the same woman. Other messages indicated that she believed he was lying to her and that she was tired of the situation.
One particularly concerning message allegedly referenced shooting someone. Investigators say this communication helped establish why they believed Kelly traveled to confront the couple.
The affidavit states that Kelly also sent a message suggesting her boyfriend had left the location before she arrived because he knew what she intended to do.
After the shot was fired, her boyfriend allegedly responded with a message expressing shock that she had shot the woman.
Authorities cited the messages as evidence supporting their allegation that the shooting followed a planned confrontation rather than an unexpected encounter.
However, the messages and the police interpretation of them will be considered as part of the criminal proceedings.
What Kelly allegedly told investigators
During questioning, Kelly reportedly said her boyfriend had taken her vehicle without permission earlier that morning. She told police that she paid for an Uber to travel to Port St. John to locate the car.
According to the affidavit, she admitted firing the weapon and told investigators where the handgun could be found.
Police also say Kelly initially claimed that she had acted in self-defense. Investigators allege that she later explained that she wanted to make a point because she believed her boyfriend was cheating on her again.
When asked whether she felt guilty about shooting the other woman, Kelly reportedly referred to karma, suggesting that the woman should have known her boyfriend was already in a relationship.
That statement became another element of the investigation into Kelly’s alleged motive.
The authorities’ account relies on witness statements, the messages and Kelly’s reported statements during questioning. The allegations have not yet been tested at trial.
The injured woman survived
The woman who was shot survived the encounter and received medical treatment at a local hospital.
Her survival means the case is being pursued as an alleged attempted killing rather than a homicide. Nevertheless, shooting into a vehicle occupied by other people can carry severe criminal consequences, particularly when prosecutors allege that the shooting was intentional.
The incident also illustrates how a confrontation driven by suspicions of infidelity can escalate into a potentially fatal act of violence when a firearm is introduced.
Investigators have not alleged that the victim was armed or that she fired a weapon during the encounter.
Charges and upcoming court proceedings
Kelly faces several charges in connection with the shooting, including:
- Attempted first-degree murder with a firearm
- Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
- Shooting into an occupied vehicle
- Use of a firearm during the commission of a crime
She is scheduled to be arraigned on November 24, 2026.
The attempted first-degree murder charge is particularly serious because it alleges an intentional attempt to kill another person. Prosecutors will need to establish the required elements of that offense in court, and the defense will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence.
The case is expected to involve the alleged text-message exchanges, witness accounts, statements made during questioning and evidence concerning the firearm.
Kelly has been accused of the offenses, but the charges do not establish guilt. The outcome will depend on the evidence presented through the legal process.
A dispute that allegedly escalated into gun violence
The investigation centers on more than a suspected romantic dispute. Authorities allege that Kelly used location information to find her boyfriend, traveled to the area and confronted the people inside the vehicle before firing.
Digital messages can provide investigators with a timeline of communications and may help establish what someone knew or intended before an incident. In this case, police say the messages were important in reconstructing the events leading up to the shooting.
Still, the central questions of intent, responsibility and the circumstances surrounding the gunfire will ultimately be addressed in court.
For the injured woman, the encounter ended with a gunshot wound and a trip to the hospital. For Kelly, the allegations have resulted in multiple felony charges and the prospect of a lengthy legal process.
What investigators describe as a confrontation over suspected cheating has now become a criminal case with potentially life-changing consequences for everyone involved.
