A 17-year-old and a 15-year-old have been arrested for murder in the shooting that killed another 17-year-old in Central Florida last week.
17-year-old Tania Lopez Morales, of Pierson, was arrested and is charged with murder in the shooting that killed Odie Carbajal of Crescent City and left another victim injured. A second shooter, 15-year-old Martin Martinez, was arrested in Pierson as the investigation continued. Both are charged with one count of first-degree felony murder and two counts of attempted felony murder.
Detectives determined Morales contacted Carbajal on Instagram and arranged to meet him in Pierson to purchase a quarter pound of marijuana.
According to local law enforcement, when Carbajal at the meeting location for the drug deal, they were met by three subjects. Morales and another subject approached Carbajal at the driver’s side door, each pointing a firearm with the intent to rob him.
During the robbery attempt, the suspects fired their weapons, striking Carbajal as well as a passenger.
The shooting in the area of 380 Main St. in Pierson was reported around 10:15pm. On arrival, Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies found a car crashed into the wood line along the road with the 17-year-old victim unresponsive in the driver’s seat. The victim had multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies pulled him from the vehicle to perform CPR, but he was pronounced deceased on scene at 10:39pm.
There were two others who were in the car at the time of the shooting, including an 18-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the leg. His injury was non-life-threatening. A third passenger was not hit.
Detectives recovered two 9mm firearms believed to be used in the shooting, along with several spent 9mm shell casings at the scene.
Detectives located evidence tying Martinez to the homicide after obtaining a search warrant and extracting data from his cell phone. He is in custody along with Tania Lopez Morales, who was arrested on the same charges.
The homicide investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible as detectives gather and review evidence.
