MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A Miami-Dade man is facing multiple felony charges after deputies said he allegedly put a handgun in a woman’s mouth, fired a shot that nearly struck her, and repeatedly beat and strangled her while their infant child was nearby, according to an arrest report.
The suspect, identified by deputies as Erick LaPlante, 33, was arrested Tuesday by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
According to the report, the victim and LaPlante had previously been in a relationship for about four years, share a child together, and occasionally lived together to help with childcare.
Investigators said the incident began after the victim returned home from taking her older son to school and fell asleep with her infant son.
According to the report, LaPlante woke her up and demanded access to her cellphone.
When she refused to unlock it, LaPlante allegedly pulled out a black handgun and placed the barrel in her mouth, causing her to provide the password out of fear, the report states.
After reviewing the contents of the phone, LaPlante confronted the victim about a conversation he found and the situation escalated into a violent attack, according to investigators.
The report states LaPlante pushed the victim to the ground, pinned her down and pressed his arms against her neck. When the victim said she was having trouble breathing, LaPlante allegedly responded, “Good.”
Authorities said LaPlante then pointed the gun at the woman and repeatedly questioned whether she had been with another man.
According to the report, he told her, “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you,” before chambering a round and firing the gun while she was on the ground.
Investigators said the shot “nearly missed her.”
After firing the gun, LaPlante allegedly picked up the spent casing, showed it to the victim and told her, “You see this” and “You see, I’m not playing,” according to the report.
Authorities said he then repeatedly struck the victim in the head with the handgun, punched her throughout her body and choked her with his hands, impeding her breathing.
The victim later told investigators she felt as though she was losing consciousness, the report states.
According to the report, LaPlante also demanded the victim’s Tesla key and she complied out of fear of further harm.
The victim’s sister later arrived at the home. Investigators said LaPlante ordered the victim to clean her face and not tell her sister what had happened.
When LaPlante entered the shower, the victim grabbed her 9-month-old child and fled the home with assistance from her sister, who later contacted law enforcement, according to the report.
Authorities said the victim suffered a cut to her lower lip, swelling to her head and face and visible scratches on her neck.
Investigators noted that the couple’s infant child was on the bed in close proximity to the alleged attack, including when the gun was discharged.
Deputies said LaPlante was later located and taken into custody. According to the report, he invoked his right to remain silent.
Jail records show LaPlante is facing charges that include attempted felony murder with a firearm, armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon, battery by strangulation, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, child neglect without great bodily harm and battery.
As of Wednesday, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”
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