Police still looking for shooter who killed woman St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – Police are searching for a suspect who shot and killed a woman in St. Petersburg Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened near 1100 James Avenue South before 9 a.m. Police said Melinda Soria, 35, was shot in the doorway of her mother’s home. Several others were in the house at the time.

Michael Florence showed up to the scene in disbelief.

“She was a wonderful person, she always tried to care for others,” said Florence.

Florence was better known as “Mimi”.

“I know I can never get my sister back, but I do have the memories of her,” said Florence. “We taking it hard, but we know that my sister is in a better place.”

Police say her boyfriend was the one who pulled the trigger.

“Something transpired between this man and our victim and he shot her this morning,” said Yolanda Fernandez with the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Not long after the shooting, a SWAT situation developed near 40th Avenue South. Investigators got word the suspect may have been in the area.

According to neighbors, the suspect’s mother lives in the area where the search was taking place.

“We received information that he might be at several locations. This is one that we knew was a known hang out,” said Fernandez.

Officers said they did not find the gunman in the home.

Florence said he hopes they stay on his trail.

“She just went through a horrible time, obviously because of this idiot, and I hope they catch him,” he said.

Soria had two sons.