A young woman who was reported as missing two years ago has been found in an unexpected way. Gracie Elizabeth Faye Landa, who disappeared from Florida when she was 16, was recently arrested in North Carolina. The young woman was apprehended after allegedly shooting and killing a young man while he sat in his car. Although others were also shot, only one of them died. Details about the killing are still emerging, but Landa will remain behind bars as they do so.
On August 18, 2025, 18-year-old Landa was arrested, according to an arrest warrant obtained by People. She is a suspect in the killing of 23-year-old Christopher Piedrasanta-Perez on May 30, 2025.
The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, reported that the man and two others were shot while sitting inside his car at a local park around 12:30 a.m. The two women in the car with him were injured. According to a report from the medical examiner’s office, two or three people approached the car, shooting inside.
Approximately 40 bullet casings, including a mix of 9mm and .223 rifle casings, were found at the scene. An autopsy of Piedrasanta-Perez notes that he died from a gunshot wound to the head. In a 911 call obtained by the News & Observer, the caller said she was in the car and had been shot 10 times.
A search warrant states that the three of them were in the park because one of their friends planned to fight another girl. When the car pulled up, the shooters came out of the woods, firing at the car. They then fled back into the woods. It is still unknown how Landa ties into the incident.
Landa went missing from her home in Tampa on June 27, 2023, at the age of 16. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, it was believed that she was traveling to Durham.
Meanwhile, the family of her victim is speaking out about how much he will be missed. “He was just a fun brother, friend, grandson, and son to be around,” his mother, Amalia Perez, told CBS 17. “Always with that big smile.”
She told the news outlet that there are still more suspects at large, but she is glad at least one person has been arrested in connection with her son’s death.
“He was my first baby,” she said. “Since everything happened, there’s not been a day where I don’t go see his grave. We’re always there. It’s just been so hard, we haven’t stopped going to see him.” She cannot make sense of the senseless killing.
“He was not out there looking for trouble. I really don’t know why this happened. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s literally my car, the one I drive every day to take my kids to work. Why that car? Why was his car targeted?” she asked, according to CBS 17.
“I have faith they will get punished for what they did because my son didn’t deserve this,” Perez added.
Landa was not given bond after her first court appearance on August 20, People reported. She is due back in court September 11.
