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Teen Dies, Woman Hospitalized, Suspect Held

POSTED: Wednesday, July 20, 2005
UPDATED: 5:43 pm EDT July 20, 2005

One of two people shot inside a van Tuesday night has died, the driver remains hospitalized with gunshot wounds, and the man accused of shooting them is being held without bond on two counts of attempted murder.

Paul Christian Rentas-Rivera
Tiny 4 logoExclusive Channel 4 video shows Paul Christian Rentas-Rivera taken to jail early Wednesday morning.
Shooting Suspect Arrested After 8-Hour Standoff
Rentas-Rivera Accused Of Hurting Girlfriend Before
Images Of Shooting, Standoff, Suspect
Police said that Paul Christian Rentas-Rivera, 29, of Orlando, fired several shots into the van driven by his ex-girlfriend and carrying four children, then broke into an apartment and held two people hostage for a time before surrendering early Wednesday.

Aja Leigh McKenna
Aja Leigh McKenna
Brinna Maria Ganas died Wednesday afternoon at Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center. Her aunt, Aja Leigh McKenna, 26, remained in critical condition.

Police said Rentas-Rivera began shooting when McKenna started to drive away after an argument. Jeff Hanna told Channel 4's Dan Leveton he saw the whole encounter.

"He emptied the whole chamber -- it was, like, 15 shots. He was never more than 6 feet from the car," Hanna said.

McKenna fled to the Third Street Diner, where employees called police just before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Three other children were in the van during the shooting. An 8-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl cut by flying glass were treated and released, officials said. McKenna's 4-year-old daughter was not injured.

Close-up of shattered window
Police said Rentas-Rivera shot into this van as his 26-year-old girlfriend started to drive away after an argument. The woman and her 13-year-old niece were seriously injured. Two other children in the van were hit by flying glass. A third child was uninjured.
Police pursued Rentas-Rivera on foot to an apartment building at Second Avenue South and First Street, about five blocks away, where he broke into a second-floor apartment. Two people inside the apartment were held hostage for several minutes, telling police the suspect held a gun to their heads and threatened to kill them. They were released unharmed.

Jacksonville Beach police spokesman Michael Zdunkiewicz said police officials negotiated with Rentas-Rivera until about 3:45 a.m., when five tear gas canisters were fired into the apartment -- more than eight hours after the standoff began.

Rentas-Rivera came out, was questioned by investigators and booked into the Duval County jail.

At a first appearance before a judge Wednesday afternoon on two counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, and armed burglary, Rentas-Rivera was ordered held without bond. That appearance came before Ganas died. Police said he will now face one count of murder.

Police surround a home where the hostage-taker is believed to be inside.
Rentas-Rivera did not made any demands during the standoff, except to ask for cigarettes, Zdunkiewicz said.

Officials said Rentas-Rivera was arrested in March, accused of beating, handcuffing and stabbing McKenna. He was charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment.

McKenna told police at the time that Rentas-Rivera threatened to kill her and her children if she left him.

Residents of neighboring residences were evacuated during the standoff, and power was cut to the immediate area overnight until Rentas-Rivera was in custody.

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