West Melbourne Police Arrested Rene Florence After She Firing a Handgun Through a Motel Room Window
By Space Coast Daily // March 19, 2026
Police charged Rene Florence, 41, who fired two rounds in the room, with false imprisonment, child abuse, domestic violence battery, discharging a firearm in public and possession of methamphetamine.
Rene Florence is facing multiple charges related to the incident, including False imprisonment, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence Battery, Discharging a Firearm in Public, and Possession of Methamphetamine. She was transported to the Brevard County Jail and is being held on a no bond status.
BREVARD COUNTY • WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — A quiet stretch of West New Haven Avenue turned chaotic Tuesday morning when a reported burst of gunfire at a roadside motel led to a tense standoff, the arrest of a Brevard mother, and the rescue of a juvenile girl from inside the room.
According to the West Melbourne Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, to America’s Best Value Inn after multiple callers reported hearing shots fired. When officers arrived, they quickly determined the gunfire had come from a second-floor motel room.
Inside, police say, was 34-year-old Rene Florence and her juvenile daughter.
Investigators allege Florence fired a handgun at least twice through the motel room windows, shattering glass and sending debris outward. Witnesses described a frantic scene, with guests taking cover and staff attempting to account for occupants as law enforcement flooded the property.
As officers established a perimeter, the situation escalated into a standoff. Police say Florence refused repeated commands to exit and prevented her daughter from leaving the room.
Crisis negotiators with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office were called in, along with West Melbourne’s SWAT team, as authorities worked to de-escalate the situation.
During the standoff, officers observed what they described as physical aggression toward the child. Fearing for the juvenile’s safety, tactical units moved in.
Authorities say less-lethal force was deployed to subdue Florence, allowing officers to enter the room and remove the child safely. Neither the juvenile nor the responding officers were seriously injured during the encounter.
Florence was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Brevard County Jail, where she is being held without bond. She faces multiple charges, including false imprisonment, child abuse, domestic battery, discharging a firearm in public, and possession of methamphetamine.
Investigators reported finding a white, powdery substance in the room that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Officials noted that Florence may have been experiencing a mental-health crisis, potentially exacerbated by drug use.
Experts say methamphetamine can trigger severe agitation, paranoia, and even psychosis—conditions that can rapidly intensify volatile situations and complicate law enforcement response.
The juvenile was removed from the motel and is now in a safe environment, receiving appropriate care, according to police.
Authorities continue to review evidence from the scene and encourage anyone with additional information to contact the West Melbourne Police Department.
For those facing mental health or substance-use crises, help is available through the national 988 crisis line or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
