Florida police arrested Taylon Nichelle Celestine, a 22-year-old woman from Georgia, after she allegedly went on a shooting spree during the solar eclipse. She was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and improper discharge of a weapon. Celestine informed staff at a local hotel that she was going on a shooting spree directed by “God” in relation to the solar eclipse on Monday. She drove a purple Dodge Challenger with Georgia plates onto Interstate 10 and opened fire on another vehicle within five miles of joining the interstate.
The driver of the vehicle was hit by broken glass and grazed on the arm by a bullet but was able to move over to the shoulder of the interstate. Celestine then allegedly shot at another vehicle near the 107-mile marker, hitting the driver in the neck. The injured driver was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Troopers conducted a traffic stop nearly nine miles up the road and took Celestine into custody without incident. Upon searching her vehicle, they recovered a 9mm handgun and an AR-15.
Celestine was booked into the Holmes County Jail on charges including attempted murder. The incident was one of multiple recent shootings in Florida, including a pre-med student admitting to stabbing his mother to death and a case where a teacher’s children were found with their slain mother after their father kidnapped them. The Florida Highway Patrol responded to reports of an active shooter in Holmes County and were able to apprehend Celestine without further incident. The investigation found that she had allegedly carried out the shooting spree under the belief that she was instructed by “God.”
The shooting spree by Celestine was a dangerous and alarming incident that resulted in injuries to multiple individuals. The fact that she believed she was being directed by a higher power to carry out the shootings adds another layer of concern to the case. The recovery of both a handgun and an AR-15 during the search of her vehicle emphasizes the severity of the situation. Celestine’s arrest and booking on charges including attempted murder highlight the gravity of her alleged actions.
The shootings on Interstate 10 carried out by Celestine were a terrifying ordeal for those involved and could have had even more tragic consequences. The police response to reports of an active shooter led to the apprehension of Celestine and the recovery of the weapons used in the shootings. The injuries sustained by the victims serve as a reminder of the real-world impact of such violent acts. The belief that the shootings were directed by “God” adds a disturbing element to the incident and raises questions about Celestine’s mental state.
