Central Florida News

State Attorney Worrell Defends Her Office’s Dropped Charges in Jones High School Shooting

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2023

State Attorney Monique Worrell gives a press update in her office in Downtown Orlando Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Photo: J. Willie David III/Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Another real-life episode of Law & Order unfolded during State Attorney Monique Worrell’s press conference at her office Wednesday.

Worrell provided a detailed explanation for why her office has chosen not to prosecute the 17-year-old suspect in the shooting at outside a Jones High School football game that resulted in 19-year-old Gamaine Brown losing his life on November 12, 2022. She shared that her office couldn’t prosecute in the case due to insufficient evidence for a second degree murder charge.

She said the witness that spoke with law enforcement evidently didn’t recognize the suspect when shown a picture of him and, since the suspect was wearing a mask at the time, could only be identified by his clothes, but the witness’s description of what the suspect wore didn’t match the clothing the suspect was actually wearing on the night in question.

“The witness identified the shooter by a nickname that was different from the nickname that the suspect who was arrested went by,” Worrell explained. “The witness did not know the person she identified, and she had never before seen their face. Complicating matters, at the time of the shooting, the person who shot and killed Mr. Brown was wearing a mask. So, the witness must have only been identifying the shooter by their clothing,” she said.

“Although we deal with tragedy on a daily basis in our office, I can’t begin to imagine the pain that Mr. Brown’s family is dealing with right now, especially given the circumstances of the deal of their child,” Worrell said.

“I spoke with Mr. Brown’s father recently, personally, to explain our office’s decision and to encourage him that we are still willing to work with the Orlando Police Department regarding the prosecution of any suspect that is presented to us,” she said.

She also referenced her initial comments on OPD’s handling of the case and said she regrets the harshness of her criticism.

Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith issued a statement on Tuesday in response to Worrell’s initial remarks about the case.

“It is both disappointing and disheartening to see the unfair criticism coming from the State Attorney’s Office regarding the hard work of our detectives pursuing justice for the victims and their families in this case,” Smith said in his statement.

“It is difficult to obtain and maintain witness cooperation in a homicide case. In this case, we had one witness willing to come forward and received zero tips to Crimeline. It is troubling that the State Attorney’s office released active and detailed investigative information that has hindered this ongoing investigation,” Smith said. “At no point did we say this investigation was over.”

Worrell said that her office finally nailed down dates to meet with the other law enforcement agencies for training on “building better cases”: April 13th and 14th.

“Our goal is to work collaboratively with our law enforcement officers for the safety of our community,” she said.

Related Topics:crimes and courts Orlando

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Central Florida News

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 1 City Commissioner Jim Gray Break Ground on New Southeast Community and Government Center

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2024

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The City of Orlando, the Orange County Library System and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority will break ground on a new, state-of-the-art community and government center, along with a library in Southeast Orlando.

The opening of the new Southeast Community and Government Center (SCGC) represents a significant step in bringing city services closer to residents and businesses in the area. By providing convenient access to essential services, the center aims to meet the needs of the city’s growing population, ensuring that community members can easily engage with local government and access resources.

Encompassing approximately 15,000 square feet, the SCGC will be a versatile, multi-functional facility tailored to meet the diverse needs of the community. Among its features, the center will play a pivotal role in supporting community safety initiatives. Serving as a regional police substation, it will facilitate enhanced coordination among the 17 police districts in the Southeast Orlando area.

Additionally, the SCGC will include a satellite office for the District 1 City Commissioner and will offer convenient access to services such as Permitting, Code Enforcement, Communications and Neighborhood Relations, and Families, Parks and Recreation for residents and visitors.

Moreover, the SCGC will feature public meeting rooms to accommodate resident gatherings and community meetings. The center will also house the Orange County Library System’s newest branch, the Lake Nona library.

The new community and government center is made possible by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development 2022 Community Project Funding Grant and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. One million dollars was awarded to the City of Orlando to help fund the SCGC, with the land being leased from GOAA.

This project promises to deliver substantial benefits to the residents of Southeast Orlando community, aiming to enhance efficiency and responsiveness while fostering a stronger connection between the city and its residents and businesses, ultimately promoting a vibrant and supportive community.

Construction of the Southeast Community and Government Center is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

WHO:
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
District 1 City Commissioner Jim Gray
Orlando Police Chief Eric D. Smith
Orange County Library System Board Trustee Ashley Cisneros Mejia
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority CEO Kevin Thibault

WHEN:
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
McCoy Community Park
7945 Dowden Road

Central Florida News

Supervisor of Elections Warns 25 Residents About Potential Voting Ineligibility

Published

1 week ago

November 25, 2024

FNN NEWS

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) – The Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office has issued a formal notice to 25 county residents who may be declared ineligible to vote. According to Florida law, these individuals must contact the Supervisor’s Office within 30 days of this announcement to address their voting eligibility or risk being removed from the Florida Voter Registration System.

This announcement, published on November 25, 2024, aligns with Section 98.075 of the Florida Statutes, which mandates due process for voters identified as potentially ineligible. Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean emphasizes the importance of timely action to resolve any discrepancies.

Orange County Supervisor of Elections Issues Notice to Potentially Ineligible Voters
Act Now to Avoid Removal from the Florida Voter Registration System

What This Means for Impacted Voters
If you are listed in the notice:

Contact the Supervisor of Elections Office immediately at (407) 836-2070 for detailed information about the reason for your potential ineligibility.
You can request a hearing to challenge the determination.
Failure to act within 30 days will result in your name being removed from the voter rolls.
If you attempt to vote, your ballot will be provisional and may not be counted unless your eligibility is confirmed within two days after the election.

Complete List of Impacted Voters

Baba, Hassan – 190 Covered Bridge Dr, Ocoee, 34761
Baez, Hector L – 8424 Pocasset Pl, Orlando, 32827
De Santiago, Andres A – 594 Maineline Blvd, Apopka, 32712
Delgado, Jorge – 2216 Bay Leaf Dr, Orlando, 32837
Domenighini, Antonella M – 7816 Murcott Cir, Orlando, 32835
Fleming Damaso, Cierra MD – 1205 Vizcaya Lake Rd Apt 109, Ocoee, 34761
Goynes, Benjamin – 2753 Elmhurst Cir, Orlando, 32810
Jean Charles, Jemima – 7365 Rex Hill Trl, Orlando, 32818-8764
Louis Jeune, Gerlande – 1424 Center St, Ocoee, 34761
McHugh, Michaela M – 2604 Falkner Rd, Orlando, 32810
Middleton, Moya M – 3024 N Powers Dr Apt 176, Orlando, 32818-3281
Monds, Jerome – 1831 Central Park Ave, Orlando, 32807
Morillo, Angel A – 3100 Via Dos, Orlando, 32817
Parente, Michael A – 2001 Glenridge Way Apt 77, Winter Park, 32792-5442
Parente, Sabella E – 2001 Glenridge Way Apt 77, Winter Park, 32792-5442
Pierre, Hassan – 114 Cherry Laurel Dr, Orlando, 32835
Pinto, Robert – 310 W Castle St, Orlando, 32809
Powers, Marcia – 4814 Red Willow Ave, Orlando, 32808
Robinson, Surrell – 426 McFall Ave Apt A, Orlando, 32805
Saintil, Benson – 2013 Rivertree Cir Apt 205, Orlando, 32839
Salazar, Ariana – 3539 Mount Martre Dr Apt 1150, Orlando, 32822
Teague, Tamika R – 1616 W Grant St, Orlando, 32805
Thomas, Jennifer BJ – 7830 Riffle Ln, Orlando, 32818
Washington, Johnathan T – 4828 Lighthouse Cir, Orlando, 32808
Watson, Vanita A – 1900 Mercy Dr Unit 125 B, Orlando, 32808

What’s Next
Residents listed have the right to dispute the determination and provide evidence to confirm their eligibility. The Supervisor of Elections Office offers assistance to navigate this process. It is crucial to act promptly to preserve voting rights.

El Supervisor de Elecciones del Condado Orange Publica Aviso para Posibles Votantes Inelegibles
Actúe Ahora para Evitar la Eliminación del Sistema de Registro de Votantes de Florida

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) – La Oficina del Supervisor de Elecciones del Condado Orange emitió un aviso formal para 25 residentes del condado que podrían ser declarados inelegibles para votar. Según la ley de Florida, estas personas deben comunicarse con la oficina dentro de los próximos 30 días para resolver su elegibilidad o serán eliminadas del Sistema de Registro de Votantes de Florida.

El anuncio, publicado el 25 de noviembre de 2024, cumple con la Sección 98.075 de los Estatutos de Florida, que exige el debido proceso para los votantes identificados como potencialmente inelegibles.

Lo que Esto Significa para los Votantes Afectados
Si aparece en el aviso:

Comuníquese de inmediato al (407) 836-2070 para obtener información sobre la razón de su posible inelegibilidad.
Puede solicitar una audiencia para impugnar la determinación.
Si no actúa dentro de los 30 días, su nombre será eliminado del registro electoral.
Si intenta votar, su boleta será provisional y no se contará a menos que se confirme su elegibilidad dentro de los dos días posteriores a la elección.

Lista Completa de Votantes Afectados (Ver sección anterior para detalles de la dirección)

Próximos Pasos
Los residentes mencionados tienen el derecho de disputar la determinación y proporcionar evidencia que confirme su elegibilidad. Es esencial actuar rápidamente para preservar el derecho al voto.

Central Florida News

Orlando International Airport Gears Up for Busy Thanksgiving Travel Season with Over 1.9 Million Passengers Expected

Published

2 weeks ago

November 18, 2024

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Orlando International Airport (MCO) is preparing for one of its busiest travel seasons as more than 1.9 million passengers are expected to travel through its terminals during the Thanksgiving holiday period, running from November 22 through December 3, 2024.

“With our experience from the past two holiday seasons, Orlando International Airport is ready to handle this year’s robust travel surge,” said Kevin J. Thibault, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Our staff, security teams, and vendors are energized to provide a seamless experience for our guests.”

Despite a slight drop in passenger volume compared to 2023, this year’s projections surpass pre-pandemic travel numbers. MCO handled 1.75 million travelers during the same period in 2022. December 1, 2024, is forecasted to be the busiest travel day, with 181,688 passengers arriving and departing.

Economic Impact for Orlando:

The influx of passengers bolsters Orlando’s economy, supporting the tourism, hospitality, and transportation sectors during one of the most crucial periods for local businesses. As a gateway to Central Florida’s theme parks, resorts, and attractions, MCO plays a vital role in driving revenue for the region.

Traveler Tips for a Smooth Journey:

Follow the 3-2-1 Rule: Be at the ticket counter 3 hours before your flight, at security checkpoints 2 hours before, and at the gate 1 hour before departure.
Reserve Parking Early: Use MCO’s Reserved Parking program via the Orlando MCO mobile app or the airport’s website. Additional spaces are available in the renamed surface lots—Atlantis, Endeavour, and Discovery—but they require E-Pass or SunPass Plus.
Consider Alternatives: With parking expected to reach capacity, rideshares, taxis, or drop-offs are highly recommended.

Important Reminders:

Stay Updated: Download the Orlando MCO app for live updates on parking and security wait times.
Be Prepared: Check for prohibited items, secure luggage tags, and ensure pets have leashes for TSA screening.
Be Patient: Expect large crowds and potential delays throughout the journey.