Three persons–a mother, her son and a suspect–were badly injured in Apopka on Thursday afternoon, following shots fired and a beating of the suspect with a gun by mom, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies said. Deputies said too that several homes in the area were evacuated as a bomb sniffing dog picked up the scent of bomb residue in a vehicle near the scene.
At approximately 2:30 pm, on Thursday, Orange County Sheriff’s Patrol deputies responded to Athens Court in Apopka regarding a call of shots fired. Upon their arrival, deputies found three people badly injured in the driveway of the home.
Investigators say a man pulled up to the residence, got out of his car armed with a long gun, a hand gun and wearing a bullet proof vest. Detectives say the man then entered the home and started firing at a 25-year-old resident in the home who tells investigators he is sure the suspect was trying to kill him. The suspect’s shots did not hit the victim, but the altercation spilled into the driveway where the suspect is reported to have been on top of the victim, beating him badly.
The victim’s 47-year-old mother is said to have then come out of the residence, grabbed the long gun and attacked the suspect with it beating him severely. At some point she too was injured. All three parties were taken to Florida Hospital where they are being treated.
The gang unit and bomb squad were called out to the scene as there have been a variety of calls for service to the address. Investigators evacuated several homes in the area as a bomb sniffing dog picked up the scent of bomb making residue in a vehicle near the scene.
Detectives are continuing with their investigation and are still trying to determine what led to the shooting. They have not released the names of the persons involved in the shooting and beatings.
Check back for updates on this story.