Mother, 7-Year-Old Shot At Clearwater Apartment Complex

CLEARWATER, FL — A mother and her 7-year-old daughter were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after a shooting Sunday around 6:30 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 600 block of Fairwood Avenue in Clearwater.

Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded to find Nicolshia Washington, 45, with possible life-threatening gunshot wounds. She was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital, police said. She died at the hospital Sunday night.

Her daughter was taken as a trauma alert to All Children's Hospital where she remains hospitalized but is expected to recover, police said.

Police said the shooting occurred during a confrontation inside an apartment between Washington's current boyfriend and former boyfriend as the former boyfriend was dropping off the child.

Police said both men exchanged gunfire and the mother and child were injured in the crossfire.

Detectives said they talked to Stacy Cross, the current boyfriend, and were trying to locate Lavaris Delapierre, the former boyfriend, who fled the scene.

On Monday night, police said Delapierre was taken to Morton Plant Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound and then transported to police headquarters for questioning. He is being charged with felony murder, armed burglary and felon in possession of a firearm.