Armed Florida woman hit someone with a baseball bat, bit off a child's finger, then died, deputies say

BRANDON — A 24-year-old woman held two people at gunpoint, struck one of them with a baseball bat and then bit off part of a child's finger on Tuesday night, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

When deputies arrived, they said Kaynesha Rhodes soon entered medical distress.

She was rushed to nearby Brandon Regional Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The cause of death has not yet been determined. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office will determine if a prior medical conditions played a role in her death.

The Sheriff's Office gave this account of what happened at the apartment complex at 529 S Parsons Ave.

An armed Rhodes arrived at an apartment she used to live at with two other people. She pointed a firearm at the two people and kept them from leaving, even locking the door.

Then Rhodes put down the gun, grabbed a baseball bat and struck one of the people in the head, deputies said. A fight ensured. At some point during the brawl, deputies said she bit off part of a child's finger during the fight. A neighbor heard what was happening and called 911.

When deputies arrived just after 11 p.m., they said Rhodes was being restrained by someone inside the apartment. They then handcuffed her. Then she fell ill.

No arrests were made in this incident. The Sheriff's Office did not say what led to Rhodes' arriving at the apartment armed, what her relationship was with the two people inside or what led to their being held at gunpoint and assaulted.

If she had not died, she would have been arrested on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a firearm and false imprisonment.