Local woman escapes charges in US cop shootout
(CNS): Following a dramatic shootout with Florida police during an escape from an armed robbery, a Caymanian woman has been released by the US authorities without charge. Bryna McLaughlin (30) was in the getaway car with JovannyPena (30), who faces a catalogue of charges from attempted murder of a cop to armed robbery after he held up an electronics store in Tampa. However, McLaughlin, originally from East End, will not be prosecuted, although she had been arrested on serious offences and was said to have been wearing a stocking mask over her head while she waited in a Jeep outside a Radio Shack store as Pena held customers and staff at gunpoint, stealing 90 mobile phones.
When Pena fled the scene, McLaughlin was in the passenger seat as he tried to evade law enforcement. In his efforts to getaway the couple were involved in a dramatic high-speed chase with police. That ended when Pena drove the car at and injured two deputies and other officers.
One of the officers fired at him and shot him in the chest. Pena was sufficiently recovered to appear in court Tuesday to plead not guilty.
Category: Crime
Unfortunately due to CNS's headline "local woman….: most people get the impression that this young woman went to Florida for a short period of time and got in these problems but she has been living in the States for at least the last 15 years and is a US citizen. As far as I concerned she is no longer a "local" person.
So someone from abroad, with status and who has lived in Cayman for 15 years is, by parity of your reasoning, a local?
Yup. That is what local means. Local does not equal Caymanian.
I like women in stockings.
Bryna gah more lives dan a stray puss!
The last thing the U.S. needs is another foreign person in jail, so I can see the reason for letting her go. It doesnt mask the seriousness of the crime however, with armed robbery & the other serious charges levied against the driver. It is a sad thing to see, hope the young woman is able to turn her life around.
A foreign person? She is a US citizen who has lived in the States for at least the last 15 years so your theory for them letting her go don't hold water. I don't know why they let her go, perhaps her boyfriend is the more serious criminal and they can get charges to stick on him better.
Too weird to comment on, so I won't.
All of you who ate so critical of someone else's child, if you have children hug them and talk to them, tell them you love them and help them to understand that it's not fate that drives our lives,but, the choices we make. I pray that we will all have the fortitude to assist more rather than condemn. Have a a Blessed week end people.
but… you did…
She's lucky she wasn't killed!
She should have been charged too and sent back to Cayman!
She shoul move home and have her MLA demand a job for her
3 chances! How lucky for her.
I know she would not have gotten away in Cayman. Wearing a stocking mask in the car. Why.
If you come back to Cayman my girl we wlll be waching you that is for sure..
Don't care how hard it is here you don't have to rob, just ask the social service for a little help.
Errr, how about getting a job? Can't believe you wrote that!
Birds of one feather flock together. Once, twice and third time you're OUT
I am so disappointed in this girl!!!!!! And it's not her upbringing as she has one of the finest mothers
in the world!!
I am confused at the thumbs down for this person's comments. She does have one of the finest mothers who brought her up with morals and values and certainly taught her right from wrong so this person is only saying they are disappointed that she strayed from that so what is up with the thumbs down? SIlly people.
Can the Government make sure she is never allowed back to Cayman?
She should be sent back to Cayman!!
Oi, Caymans version of "love thy neighbour"!!
"God's Chosen People"
She is Jewish?! Pheww. And there I was thinking she was Caymanian.
If he had been a decent, honest, hard-working man, she probably wouldn't have wanted him, as is the case with most women these days and by the time she is old enough to realize her mistakes, it is too late to make any other choice, as no good manwill want her then.
EXCAPED CHARGES?? She saved herself! Can't blame her though but now we have to deal with her here! Wish they would've kept her locked up for a couple of years!
Wow, she should find Jesus! She won't get another chance like that!
Yep, totallyagree. But like the article says the charges will be left on her file, so she better not get into any trouble in the future because I doubt she will get the chance she got now. Bryna, come home and start over; DO BETTER.
Where does it say the charges will be held on file?
And this was the second time she has escaped being prosecuted in circumstances involving the same guy. If she doesn't learn now then she is a hopeless idiot.
She is already a hopeless idiot.
Pot cursing kettle perhaps, thinker? you may have some hopeless idiot (s) right next to you.
Is she a hopeless idiot?, you must have had some influence on her if you can speak that way.
What is it like to live in a world untouched by logic?
a prime example of my people choice in men! bracka