Man Arrested For October Shooting

A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $550,000 bail as well as an INS detainer, charged with shooting his girlfriend's niece during a domestic violence disturbance.

Cesar Guillermo Herrera, 25, also known as Cesar Garcia, faces charges of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, domestic violence battery, armed burglary and grand theft.

The incident dated back to Oct. 19, when Herrera's live-in girlfriend, who is the mother of his two children, came home and found him sleeping. In his waistband she saw the butt of a handgun sticking out, so she removed it.

She wanted to get money for shoes so she woke him up. This started an argument which escalated, according to the report.

Herrera discovered his gun was not there and demanded it back, the report stated. He slapped the girlfriend in the face, the report stated.

The girlfriend's live-in sister was there along with a 17-year-old niece who was staying the night.
The sister and niece tried to intervene but were threatened as well with a knife. Herrera got his handgun, chambered a round and approached the three women pointing it at them.

The gun went off and the niece was struck in the hand and abdomen.

Herrera ran from the house, got into the girlfriend's 1992 Buick and sped off.
Herrera left Highlands County and traveled to Orange County, said Sheriff's Lt. John Chess on Thursday.

On Nov. 3 information was received where Herrera might be and he was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. It was not clear if the handgun was recovered.

Herrera was returned to Highlands County on Nov. 7 to face charges.