OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Three men are accused of shooting an uninvolved grandfather who was inside his home, according to officials from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Anthony Ruiz, 22, Jacob Elliot Lopez, 20, and Armani Hugo Matos, 21, were arrested in Davenport on Friday on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and robbery with a firearm. The three are accused of killing 57-year-old Darik Febus on Tuesday after an altercation outside his home in the Hammock Trails subdivision escalated into a gunfight.
Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said the suspects were engaging in "illegal drug activity" outside Febus' home when the gunfire began. Shots were fired in the direction of Febus' home, striking and killing him.
Febus was an innocent bystander who was not connected to the drug activity, according to Gibson. He said the location of the incident was random and is believed to be isolated. Gibson said part of the investigation includes figuring out why the three men ended up outside Febus' home.
Gibson said further information about the kidnapping and robbery charges will be released as authorities' investigation continues. There is surveillance video involved in the incident that has not yet been released.
Febus is remembered as a longtime resident of Osceola County who "would lend to anyone, anytime."
"Hearts and prayers should be with this family who have lost this man," Gibson said.
The three men attended their first court appearance Friday and have no bond, according to the jail.