ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 17-year-old was shot to death near a condominium complex in Orange County on Wednesday afternoon, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a release, deputies said they responded to the 5500 block of PGA Boulevard around 2:30 p.m. in response to the shooting.
Upon arrival, deputies found the teen — identified as Jamar Jerome — who had already suffered a gunshot wound, deputies added. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The investigation is in its early stages, and we have no further information to release at this time,” the release reads.
Alejandro Acuna, who lives at the Greens Condominiums, says he can’t imagine how the family is feeling, especially on Christmas Eve. He says losing a child at just 17 years old makes it a sad day for everyone.
Acuna says the shooting happened near his apartment. He explains that he was at work when his partner called him, frightened, saying she heard gunshots outside the window.
He says he lives just a couple of buildings away and believes it happened right in front of where he lives, prompting her to tell him to come home immediately.
Deputies blocked off access to the apartment complex for hours while investigating, cutting off many residents, including Acuna, from returning home.
Acuna says he has lived at the complex since 2018 and nothing like this has ever happened. While he says residents sometimes hear gunshots in the area, he adds it has never been like this inside the complex.
Now, Acuna says he’s worried about his family’s safety. He says he has an 11-year-old son and is working all the time, making the situation even more concerning for him.
No additional information has been provided at this time.