APOPKA, Fla. – Apopka police arrested a man Friday who they say shot his former Wendy’s manager last month in retaliation after being fired.
Police said they found the victim’s car ablaze on Fifth Street and linked the license plate to his Orange North Apartments address in Apopka, where they found him with gunshot wounds on Nov. 3.
The victim, Dexter Hughley, told deputies he got home and was getting undressed when Demarquis Prince showed up and shot him three times, according to court records.
Hughley's car was found burned with a cash-deposit bag missing.
Prince was fired from the fast-food chain for poor attendance, according to police records.
Teressa Joyner, who works at the Wendy's, said Hughley gave Prince a number of chances before he was fired.
"He did a no-call no-show and Dexter had said to me ... 'I'm going to have to let him go ... 'I had done give him chances after chances, you know, to get it together' and he had to let him go," Joyner said.
Joyner said Prince was a man who often kept to himself, but would sometimes confide in her.
"He just didn't seem like that type of young man to do something like that. You know, but you never know what goes on in a person's mind. What triggers that," Joyner said.
Hughley is still recovering from his injuries, his cousin told News 6.
Hughley’s coworkers at Wendy’s described Hughley as a nice guy who had a fabulous voice.
While in ICU, a trachea was put in Hughley's throat so he could speak.
"He would help anybody. He would take the shirt off his back. And he had given this young man chances after chances so I couldn't really understand why would he do something like this to Dexter," Joyner said.
Prince is charged with attempted murder, burglary, home invasion, carjacking, aggravated battery and grand theft.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Apopka police wouldn't say if there are more suspects linked to the case.