Man slain, woman pistol-whipped in Orange County home invasion

Deputies search for 3 armed assailants

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man was killed and a woman was injured early Tuesday during a violent home invasion in Orange County, according to deputies.

The fatal home invasion was reported at 1:16 a.m. in the 10400 block of Kingbrook Lane in the Williamsburg subdivision, south of State Road 528 between I-4 and John Young Parkway.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the home after shots were fired.

Deputies said three armed assailants entered the home demanded cash from the residents.

A man suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, deputies said. They have identified him as 25-year-old Mehdi Ari. A woman was also taken to the hospital after being pistol-whipped, deputies said.

​​​​​​ "We've never had anything like this,"  Kenneth Benson, the HOA President said. "This kind of shakes our sense of stability and security in this neighborhood because someone just got murdered here."

Sheriff's officials said homicide detectives determined that the home invasion was not a random crime and the victim was targeted. Detectives believe drugs and money were the motive, according to officials.

"Many of these cases, the vast majority, are targeted and they know what they're looking for. They're looking for drugs or guns," Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. "Overall, crime in the county is down, but we have had a recent spike in drug related homicides."

No details about the culprits have been released.

Watch News 6 and stay with ClickOrlando.com for updates.


About the Author:

Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009. When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com, Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby.

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