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Winter Garden Police Investigate Fatal Shooting After Card Game

Winter Garden Police Investigate Fatal Shooting After Card Game

A man identified as Shariff Simmons, 49, was shot and killed late Wednesday night in Winter Garden, Florida. Police responded to a home on Bethune Avenue around 11:30 p.m. and found Simmons with multiple gunshot wounds in front of the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the shooting was targeted. Simmons and others were reportedly engaged in a card game inside the home prior to the incident. No suspects are currently in custody, and authorities are actively searching for the individual responsible. Neighbors, including Yvette Kemp, expressed shock and grief, describing Simmons as a deeply loved individual. Kemp noted that the area has experienced similar tragedies in the past, highlighting a recurring issue of violence on Bethune Avenue. Simmons' mother also spoke to News 6, remembering her son as well-mannered and well-known in the community. Friends and family have shared tributes on social media, remembering Simmons as a mentor and a positive influence.

Port Charlotte High School Lockdown Lifted After No Active Threat Found

Port Charlotte High School Lockdown Lifted After No Active Threat Found

Port Charlotte High School in Florida was placed under lockdown on Wednesday afternoon following a reported threat. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) confirmed that the lockdown began around 1:40 p.m. In response to the threat, deputies were dispatched to the school and conducted a thorough search of all campus buildings. By 2:08 p.m., the CCSO announced that no active threat had been found, and the lockdown was subsequently lifted. The incident caused temporary disruption and concern within the school community and among local residents, but authorities quickly secured the premises and ensured the safety of students and staff.

Downtown Dunedin Businesses Propose Open-Container Entertainment District and Revival of 'Second Friday' Events

Downtown Dunedin Businesses Propose Open-Container Entertainment District and Revival of 'Second Friday' Events

Downtown Dunedin Businesses Propose Open-Container Entertainment District and Revival of 'Second Friday' Events

Florida Man Arrested in Maine for Wrong-Way Driving on I-95

Florida Man Arrested in Maine for Wrong-Way Driving on I-95

A Florida man was arrested in Maine after numerous reports of a box truck driving erratically and traveling the wrong way on Interstate 95. The Bangor Regional Communications Center received 14 calls around 5:32 p.m. regarding the truck, which was initially reported traveling south on I-95 in Old Town. Police stated the truck drove through a closed gate at a weigh station before continuing southbound. Troopers, along with Bangor and Orono police, were alerted and began searching for the vehicle. The truck later exited I-95 at Exit 187 on Hogan Road in Bangor, then re-entered the interstate heading north. At one point, it crossed the median and drove the wrong way in the southbound lanes before correcting its course. The driver, identified as 36-year-old Julio Matos of Orange City, Florida, was eventually located in a BJ’s parking lot in Bangor and taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported during the incident.

Florida Mother Arrested After Leaving 6-Year-Old Son Alone at Park

Florida Mother Arrested After Leaving 6-Year-Old Son Alone at Park

Elena Sexton, a 41-year-old mother from Texas, was arrested in Florida over the weekend and charged with child neglect with no great bodily harm. Police reports indicate that Sexton left her 6-year-old son alone at Town Center Park in Sunny Isles Beach while she went to get food with a friend. A witness discovered the child alone around 8:50 p.m. on Saturday and reported it to the police. The boy informed the witness that his mother had left him and that he was scared and hungry, having not eaten since breakfast. The witness estimated the child had been alone for nearly an hour. Police later located Sexton returning to the park and took her into custody. She appeared before a judge on Monday, and her bond was set at $2,500.

Marcela Borges' 2009 Kidnapping and Escape Adapted into Lifetime Movie

Marcela Borges' 2009 Kidnapping and Escape Adapted into Lifetime Movie

Marcela Borges, a Brazilian-born mother, survived a three-day kidnapping and home invasion in Winter Garden, Florida, in 2009 while pregnant with her second child. Her harrowing escape from her captors became the basis for the 2025 Lifetime movie, 'Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story.' On November 15, 2009, four masked and armed intruders entered the Borges family home, demanding money. Marcela, her husband Rubens Morais, and their five-year-old son Ryan were bound and blindfolded before being moved to another property in Apopka, Florida. Marcela was forced to withdraw approximately $23,000 to $24,000 from a bank. On the third day of captivity, Marcela confronted a female attacker, managed to free herself, and escaped through a second-story window, despite being shot twice. She reached a neighbor's home, leading to police intervention and the rescue of her husband and son.

Cruise Guests Arrested for Alleged Assault and Burglary After Cabin Disturbance

Cruise Guests Arrested for Alleged Assault and Burglary After Cabin Disturbance

Two cruise guests, Gannon Jacox, 29, and Brooklyn Hicks, 28, both from Ohio, were arrested following an alleged incident of assault and burglary on a cruise ship. According to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, the couple was arguing when another passenger asked them to quiet down. Hicks reportedly confronted the passenger, with Jacox following and recording on his cell phone. Authorities state that Jacox then instructed Hicks to "beat them up," leading to the couple allegedly forcing their way into the other passenger's cabin. A fight ensued, during which Jacox is accused of hitting all three occupants, including a 9-year-old child. Hicks also allegedly struck one victim. None of the victims sustained serious injuries. The couple had reportedly been consuming alcohol prior to the incident. Jacox faces charges including three counts of felony burglary with assault or battery, one count of felony child abuse, and one misdemeanor count of battery. Hicks was charged with one count of felony burglary with assa...

Tourist Stabbed in Unprovoked Attack at Midtown McDonald's

Tourist Stabbed in Unprovoked Attack at Midtown McDonald's

A 19-year-old Australian tourist was stabbed multiple times in the torso during an unprovoked attack inside a Midtown McDonald's in New York City. The incident occurred early Monday morning at approximately 2 a.m. at the McDonald's located at 490 8th Ave. Police from the Midtown South Precinct responded to a report of an assault in progress and found the victim with stab wounds. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transported the injured tourist to Bellevue Hospital, where he is currently in stable condition and expected to recover. Authorities stated that the victim was eating when the attack took place. Following the incident, police apprehended 25-year-old Juan Mercedes of Florida, who has since been taken into custody for questioning and charged with assault. According to NYPD data, felony assaults in the Midtown South Precinct are down by 5%, but across the entire south of Manhattan, they have increased by 4%.

Cuban National Pleads Guilty to International Alien Smuggling, Asylum Fraud, and Money Laundering Conspiracy

Cuban National Pleads Guilty to International Alien Smuggling, Asylum Fraud, and Money Laundering Conspiracy

Yuniel Lima-Santos, a 31-year-old Cuban national residing in Tampa, Florida, has pleaded guilty to charges related to an international alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. According to court documents, Lima-Santos conspired with others to operate an organization that encouraged thousands of Cuban nationals and other aliens to illegally enter the United States. The scheme involved using fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications and visa waivers. The defendants advertised their services on social media, assisting Cubans in making false claims of European citizenship to enter the U.S. via European tourist visa waivers or ESTA, and filing hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) using fake addresses and fabricated documents. Lima-Santos facilitated the movement of aliens from their countries of origin into and throughout the United States, including purchasing international and domestic flights. He admitted to s...

Florida carries out its 13th execution of the year on a man convicted of killing estranged wife

Florida carries out its 13th execution of the year on a man convicted of killing estranged wife

A Florida man convicted of fatally shooting his estranged wife and wounding his mother-in-law has been executed

Florida Officials Advocate for Federal Animal Cruelty Legislation Amidst Rising Cases

Florida Officials Advocate for Federal Animal Cruelty Legislation Amidst Rising Cases

Florida prosecutors and sheriffs are publicly supporting three federal bills aimed at combating organized animal cruelty, fighting, and trafficking operations. This push comes in response to several high-profile animal cruelty cases in Florida, including the rescue of 36 border collies from deplorable conditions in Palm City and a suspected dog-fighting operation in North Florida involving over 80 dogs and puppies. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, emphasizes that animal cruelty is often linked to other criminal activities. The proposed legislation includes the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, which would establish a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the U.S. Department of Justice. The FIGHT Act seeks to strengthen federal animal-fighting laws by targeting online gambling, authorizing civil forfeiture of property used in fighting, and restricting the shipment of mature fighting birds. Additionally, the No Flight, No Fight Act aims to restrict the commercial air transport...

Florida Residents Urged to Avoid Common Hurricane Preparation Mistakes Amidst Active Season

Florida Residents Urged to Avoid Common Hurricane Preparation Mistakes Amidst Active Season

Florida residents are being advised to avoid three common mistakes when preparing for hurricanes, even during a potentially quiet season. The first mistake is waiting for a storm to be directly threatening Florida before initiating preparations. Emergency managers and meteorologists emphasize that preparations, such as building an emergency kit and knowing evacuation zones, should be completed well in advance of any storm advisories. The second mistake is focusing solely on wind speeds and neglecting the significant flood risks associated with hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center highlights that water hazards, including storm surge and inland flooding, are historically the leading causes of fatalities during hurricanes. The third error is failing to plan for extended periods without electricity, which can lead to challenges with air conditioning, refrigeration, and access to essential services like ATMs and fully stocked stores. Power outages can also pose health risks, especially for vulnerable popul...