A woman was arrested outside of Miami-Dade County McDonalds after police say she instigated an incident which resulted in her own daughter being shot. Melissa Valbrum, 32, has since been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, and culpable negligence inflicting personal injury, according to CBS News.
It all started around 10 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 22) when Valbrum and her 15-year-old daughter were inside the fast food restaurant. A group of three were also inside the McDonalds reportedly waiting for their Lyft to pick them up, according to CBS News. Once the Lyft arrived, one of the three people pointed outside to signal it was time for them to leave, but that’s when everything went left.
According to police, Valbrum’s daughter thought the group was pointing at her mother and proceeded to tell her mom. From there, Valbrum began arguing with the group and eventually followed them outside.
The group of three got into their Lyft, and this is when they say Valbrum went to her car and came back with a gun. The 32-year-old then verbally threatened to “shoot and kill” the group and the Lyft driver, reports NBC Miami. Valbrum also reached inside the vehicle to allegedly physically assault one of the victims, who was a minor. The driver told police he saw Valbrum assault the minor and point her gun at all of them.
The driver eventually drove off, but soon afterwards, the group told police they heard a single gunshot, according to the affidavit. Valbrum’s daughter was reportedly hit in the shoulder. She was then taken to the hospital in stable condition, according to NBC Miami.
Valbrum told police she did not point her gun at the victims. She also alleges the firearm fell from her waistband, causing it to discharge and hit her daughter.
The affidavit reported that police watched surveillance video and witness’ phone video of the incident showing Valbrum with a gun in her hand while banging on the rear passenger window of the Lyft. The video has not been released to the public yet.
Valbrum was released on a $22,000 bond. The judge ordered her to stay away from the group of three, the driver, and her daughter.