BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — A 41-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after police said a woman was gunned down at a Boynton Beach apartment complex.
A police department spokesperson said officers responded to the 600 block of Meadows Circle at about 8:50 a.m.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the female victim already dead and lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds.
Police said they were able to identify Robens Cesar as a primary suspect in this case. A short time later, police said they found him in the 100 block of Northwest 14th Avenue and took him into custody.
Cesar faces a charge of first-degree murder. The name of the victim has not been released.
"I heard a bunch of gunshots. A bunch of gunshots," a woman who lives at the apartment complex told WPTV. "At first, I heard about two or three. But then, a lot. Plenty of more shots."
The apartment complex is located right next to Freedom Shores Elementary School and just blocks away from Santaluces Community High School and Royal Palm School.
However, none of those schools were on lockdown Wednesday, according to the School District of Palm Beach County, and none of the schools were involved in the incident.
"This has never happened. I've been out here [for] 13 years. This has never happened," the resident said. "I've never seen anyone get shot and killed in front of me like that."
Evidence markers covered the ground as detectives worked to put the pieces together.
"It's frightening in your own backyard. It’s really horrific to see," neighbor Dawn Rosado said.
Rosado said she had one thing on her mind as she rushed outside to see what happened.
"We didn't know if children were walking to school if they were caught in the gunfire," Rosado said. "Some children, they go to school late, and that was our concern. Were there children involved?"
While there are schools nearby, police said it wasn't necessary to put them on lockdown.
"If we felt there was an immediate threat to the school, we would be notifying the schools and recommending them to lock down," said Boynton Beach Police Department spokeswoman Holly Picciano.
As the investigation continues, neighbors are thinking of the family members left behind.
"Whatever happened, the person was, there was some malice behind it," one neighbor said. "It's just sad and unfortunate. Right after the kids go to the bus stop."