- Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, opened fire on I-10 on Monday after saying God told her to do so “in connection with the solar eclipse.”
- Two drivers were injured in the shooting before Celestine was arrested
- Authorities found an AR-15 and a 9 mm pistol in his car.
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A woman who opened fire on a Florida highway claimed God told her to do it “in connection with the solar eclipse,” even though the state was not in the path of totality.
Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, was stopped by police on I-10 on Monday after reports of an active shooter in Holmes County, about an hour from Tallahassee.
Celestine drove a purple Dodge Challenger with Georgia plates onto the highway and, within five miles, “fired multiple shots at another vehicle” before striking another driver, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
One of the drivers was hit by the glass of his car window and a bullet grazed his arm. The other was hit in the neck and was taken to a nearby hospital.
Once officers located Celestine, they conducted a traffic stop and took her into custody. Authorities found an AR-15 and a 9mm pistol in her car.
Taylon Nichelle Celestine, 22, was stopped by police on I-10 on Monday after she told staff at a local hotel that God had told her to shoot “in connection with the solar eclipse.”
Before beginning the violent attack, the Florida Highway Patrol said the suspect told staff at a local hotel that “God” had ordered her to go on a shooting spree because of the eclipse.
As Celestine was traveling on the interstate, he opened fire on passing cars, hitting one driver before striking another.
The first driver managed to get away from Celestine and stopped on the shoulder of the road after being hit.
One of the cars was seen with broken windows and multiple bullet holes after the terrifying shooting.
After that, she proceeded to drive down the highway before police officers caught up with her and detained her for a felony traffic stop.
According to police, she was taken into custody without incident and taken to the Holmes County Jail.
Celestine was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and improper discharge of a firearm.
In Florida, attempted first-degree murder can carry a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole and fines of up to $10,000.
An aggravated assault charge is considered a second-degree felony that can result in up to 15 years of probation or 15 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $10,000.
Two drivers were injured after Celestine opened fire on I-10. One of the cars is seen with bullet holes and cracks in its window
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The solar eclipse began moving across Texas before it swept through New England and Canada on Monday
Improperly discharging a firearm in the Sunshine State is generally classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, with a sentence of up to one year in jail or one year of probation and a $1,000 fine.
On Monday, the total solar eclipse paralyzed North America as the moon blocked the sun.
The phenomenon began in Mexico before moving to Texas and spreading through New England and Canada.
The Mexican resort city of Mazatlán was the first major observation site to be plunged into darkness due to the celestial phenomenon.
People flocked from across the country to states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri to view the eclipse that is not expected to occur again until 2045.
While crowds in the South were amazed and New Yorkers were generally disappointed, the event sent animals into a frenzy in zoos and homes across the country.
At the Dallas Zoo, giraffes, zebras and ostriches screeched, squawked and ran for cover as the clouds darkened.