Handcuffed Woman ‘Upset Over Loud Music’ Shoots Deputy With Concealed Gun, Sentenced to 40 Years

A 23-year-old woman in Florida has been charged with first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer. According to court documents, she faces a 40-year sentence in a correctional facility for the attack.

The incident occurred in June 2025 when a deputy stopped Rheanna Harden, 22, at the time, on a highway. She was stopped for running a stop sign and nearly hitting another car. After a search of her vehicle, authorities recovered controlled substances. Harden was initially arrested for possession of marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, providing false identification and driving with a suspended license.

While Harden was being transported to the Marion County Jail, she managed to slip one hand from the handcuffs. While she was being placed in the back seat of the patrol vehicle, she opened the plexiglass partition between her and the deputy. Investigators said she had a concealed gun in her pants and shot the deputy.

Surveillance footage from the patrol car shows Harden initially covering the rare-seat camera before removing a handgun concealed in her pants. She is also seen removing the partition before firing multiple rounds at the deputy. The footage also shows Harden moving in the back seat for several minutes before she removed the concealed weapon.

After multiple shots were fired, the deputy is seen screaming as the car crashes into a utility pole. The deputy then exited the vehicle and returned fire. A revolver with six spent shell casings was recovered from the scene, deputies said. Harden was removed from the vehicle. Both Harden and the the deputy sustained non life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The shots fired by Harden left the deputy with a gaze wound near his right cheek, slightly below his eyes. Investigators have not released whether Harden was stuck by a gunfire. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment. Harden suffered minor shoulder and hip injuries.

In a subsequent interview, Harden said she had a difficult upbringing and an inherent distrust of law enforcement. She added that the deputies behavior was rude and that he searched her despite being male. She said the deputy did not find the gun because it was concealed in her shorts under her pants. She described being shocked and scared when the deputy missed the gun and wanted the windows to be rolled down so that she could throw it out. Harden said she became more upset when the deputy did not respond and played loud music in the car.

In addition to attempted murder charges Harden faces a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She was initially charged for first degree murder, but after she pleaded no contest, the judge reduced the charge to second degree murder. She also faces charges of possession of controlled substances, providing false information to a deputy and driving with a suspended license.