A Florida man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of newlyweds who were found shot to death in their home near West Palm Beach on Saturday morning.
Sony Josaphat, 46, who lives in a home on the same block where the couple was killed, has been arrested and is currently being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail.
The couple who were killed died from their gunshot wounds and have not yet been publicly identified. They had tied the knot just a week earlier.
The 45-year-old woman who was killed was originally from Haiti and worked as a nurse, while her husband, who was also from the Caribbean country, served as a local pastor.
A woman who was outside the home where the couple was killed claimed to be the murder victim's sister.
A pastor and his newlywed nurse wife were both shot to death at a home near West Palm Beach on Saturday. The couple, originally from Haiti, had married just a week earlier
“She has never been happier than she is now,” the woman countered WPTV.
In a wedding photo of the happy couple, taken a week earlier, you see the couple standing next to each other, smiling broadly.
Three of the woman's children were in the home during the shooting. Among them is an adult who witnessed the murders.
“The family has filed for Marsy's Law for both victims,” the sheriff's office said in a statement, meaning their names will not be made public. “Let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Officials have not said whether the shooting took place indoors or outdoors.
Josaphat's daughter called 911 Saturday morning to report how she saw her father shoot the newlyweds.
Sony Josaphat, 46, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and remains in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond
When emergency services arrived, the daughter and her brother were at the house, while the victims were found lying on the sidewalk in front of the house's front door.
Josaphat used to live in the house, but had not been there for more than a year.
He was known to show up randomly from time to time and had a history of being “controlling,” according to a redacted statement of probable cause, according NBC News.
The affidavit contained the details that explicitly stated the connection between Josaphat and the victims.
On the day of the shooting, Josaphat was seen walking through the front yard of the house and opening fire.
He later told a deputy how he was overcome with “rage” after he saw a surveillance camera being installed at the front door of the home, the affidavit said.
Josaphat used to live in the house, but had not been there for more than a year. He was known to show up randomly from time to time and had a history of being “controlling,” a redacted statement of probable cause reveals.
Neighbors in a normally quiet community said loud bangs were heard but believed the couple was working on their home
Police are present at the scene of the shooting on Saturday
“He walked up to (redacted) and said, 'Good morning.' They said 'good morning' to him. Sony then shot (redacted) in the upper torso and head. He then fired several times (redacted),” the affidavit states.
Josaphat then drove to the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office headquarters, went to the main detention center courthouse and surrendered, explaining how he had just killed the victims.
According to court documents, Josaphat had no history of domestic violence or a restraining order with the victims
Neighbors in a usually quiet community said loud bangs were heard but believed the couple was working on their home.
“I heard what sounded like gunshots, but I thought it was just people working on someone's roof, so I ignored it and went into the house. When I went outside again later, I saw all the police activity here,” Dicter Pineda said. WPTV.
Another neighbor said the two murders were particularly shocking and that although she did not know the victims personally, they were members of her church.
“It's pretty quiet and we don't have a lot of stuff here, so I don't know how this happened,” Deanne Germeil said. 'This is terrible. It's horrible and I don't know how to describe it,” she said WPBF.
“My heart goes out to the deceased,” Daniel Meighan added. “I just pray it doesn't happen to someone else again, something so horrible.”