A teenager who vanished from Florida two years ago has been found and immediately arrested on suspicion of murder. Gracie Elizabeth Faye Landa, 18, was taken into custody on Monday and charged in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Piedrasanta-Perez, 23, in North Carolina.
Landa had gone missing from her Florida home in June 2023 at the age of 16. Authorities believed she had travelled to North Carolina a year later, but there were no further updates on her whereabouts until her arrest this week.
Fatal shooting details
Piedrasanta-Perez was killed on May 30 whilst sitting in a Honda Accord with two women, both of whom sustained injuries. Two to three suspects emerged from woods and opened fire on the vehicle before fleeing on foot.
According to the Daily Mail, 40 shell casings were recovered from the scene near Whippoorwill Park around 12:30 a.m. The casings included a mix of 9mm and .223 rifle rounds, indicating multiple weapons were used in the attack.
Victim's circumstances disputed
The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, with conflicting accounts about why the victims were at the location. Reports suggest they were there because a friend wanted to confront another girl, but were ambushed upon arrival.
However, the victim's mother Amalia Perez disputed this version. "Several people came out of the woods and started shooting at them," she told Fox8. "He was not out there looking for trouble. I really don't know why this happened. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Perez said her son had just completed a DoorDash delivery with his girlfriend when the shooting occurred. She added: "I have faith that they will get punished for what they did, because my son didn't deserve this."
Investigation continues
Authorities have not revealed how Landa is connected to the shooting or whether she is believed to be one of the gunmen captured on surveillance footage. A GoFundMe campaign described Piedrasanta-Perez as having a "calm and cool presence" who "had a way of making everyone around him feel safe and seen."
According to the Daily Mail, Landa's first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday, with the next hearing set for September 11. She remains in Durham County Jail without bond as the investigation continues.
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "Fox8", "The News & Observer", "National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
