Alteria Woods, 21, had a lot to look forward to. The young woman was expecting her first child and was four months pregnant. But her life was cut short on Sunday morning after she was shot and killed during a S.W.A.T. raid on the home of her boyfriend, the father of her unborn child. Her boyfriend is accused of causing her death.
A Florida CBS affiliate reports that Andrew Coffee IV, 23, and his father, Andrew Coffee III, 38, were the targets during a raid carried out by Indian River County deputies. It was reportedly set up in response to recent shootings in the Gifford, Fla. area (including the shooting death of Deputy Garry Chambliss) and over the fact that the Coffee house is known as a drug house.
Police traveled to the home before 6 a.m. on Sunday, and when they got there, Coffee III was apprehended after stepping outside. He reportedly tussled with officers but was still arrested. As for his son, it was Coffee IV who allegedly started firing at police through a bedroom window, shooting a deputy who is expected to be fine. Woods found herself in the crossfire while in the home after Coffee allegedly hid behind her as the shootout took place. That’s the story according to Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar.
“Andrew Coffee IV cowardly was using her as protection.”
But Loar acknowledges that it was fire from officers that killed the young mother to be.
“Today, we mourn the loss of Alteria Woods,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers go to her family.”
As for father and son, Andrew Coffee III and IV appeared in court on Monday to explain themselves but made no mention of Woods. Coffee III said that the drugs found in his home belonged to a relative sick with cancer. The drugs reportedly include cocaine and pills, and firearms were also retrieved by police. Coffee III’s bond was set at $93,000. As for Coffee IV, well, he just seemed pleased that he was able to obtain a bond of $307,000 after shooting a cop. “Thank you for showing, pretty much, mercy on me,” he said. “I know at times I haven’t been perfect but I’ve been working and stuff and I’ve been working to become a better person.”
It was Coffee III’s mother, Towanna Ruffin, who finally brought up Woods’ name, but not in the way one would hope. She wanted to clear up what is and what isn’t “cowardly” concerning the claims that her son used Woods as a shield.
“Get it right, because you said my baby shielded and put her in front of him, that he’s a coward for doing that,” Ruffin stated in reference to the sheriff. “No, your police officers are a coward for shooting someone over 50 some times.”
Both father and son have been arrested more than 30 times, and their elder, Andrew Coffee II, is currently in prison for shooting a deputy in 2015.
As for the family of Woods, her aunt, Arlene Cooper said they are devastated and confused by the 21-year-old’s death.
“I’ve never heard of this before. We don’t know what to do, no closure.”
The post 21-Year-Old Mother To Be Killed When Boyfriend Uses Her As Shield In Police Shootout appeared first on MadameNoire.