Single Mother & 8yrs Old Son Shot Dead By Her Boyfriend

This is an update on the saga. A single mum from Sanford, Florida and her 8yrs old son were killed by her boyfriend just hours after the police were called to her home about a domestic dispute.

Latina Herring, 35, and her son, 8, were shot and killed by Allen Cashe, 31, on March 27th.

Her father and second son, 7, were also shot and are currently in critical condition in the hospital.

The suspect Allen Cashe had gone on a shooting spree, firing 24 bullets from his AK-47 at Latina and her entire family. He also shot at and injured two other random people who were standing in his way as he tried to make his escape.

Cashe first called police around 3.20am as he and his girlfriend were arguing outside a convenience store. When police arrived, he told them Latina had stolen his keys and accused her of having an “attitude" after "coming home from the club drunk”. Latina accused him of having her house keys. Police settled the case as best they could and left.

Twenty minutes later, they got another call to Latina's home in Sanford, Florida and found them arguing on the lawn. Latina reportedly claimed that Cashe had a gun but police disputed her claim.

One police said: "She’s making false accusations. It’s the second time she’s done it."

Another officer was heard saying to Latina in a video footage released by the police department: "We’re going to handle it, ma’am, just stop calling 911 and making up accusations that you don’t know about, alright?"

At that point, authorities decided it was a civil matter, not a criminal one, and did not make an arrest. Frustrated with the way the police handled the situation, Latina said she should have lied that her boyfriend had hit her. Police waited and after Cashe left the house they also left but he returned to the house around 6 a.m. with a gun, kicked the door in and killed Latina in her bed and her young son Branden Christian as he was asleep on the sofa. He also shot Latina’s father, Bertis Gerard Herring Jr, and her other seven-year-old son, Brendon Christian.

Neighbours called 911 to report gunshots after they saw Herring Jr. standing outside, bleeding and screaming for help. Cashe said he did what he did because he was upset with Latina for calling the police. He was formally charged with first-degree murder of Latina and her son. He is in custody at the Seminole County Jail and is being held without bail.

It was revealed that Cashe has a history of violence and abuse. Court record shows he's been arrested at least 5 times for crimes ranging from violence and battery to threats but each time he went free and authorities revealed it was because his victims were always afraid to take him to court.

Sanford police chief, Chief Cecil Smith said: "Part of the issues is that we have so many victims who refuse to prosecute... They will file the complaints, they will file the charges but when it gets into the court system they choose to step back."