Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsBrandon Hogan SOUTH APOPKA – A man died after being shot Sunday afternoon in South Apopka according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to a shooting reported out of the 500 block of West Ella J Gilmore Street The man who had been shot — described as being in his 20s — was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries All parties involved remained at the scene No further details were shared or confirmed at the time of this report Note: This map depicts the general area of this shooting and not necessarily its exact location Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021 TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Orlando-News.com A man was shot and killed in an Orange County neighborhood on Sunday afternoon According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 500 block of W Ella J Gilmore Street in Apopka at around 1:30 p.m they found a male victim in his 20s who had sustained a gunshot wound The victim was transported to a local hospital His identity was not released by the sheriff’s office OCSO stated that all parties involved in the shooting incident remained on scene No further details were provided by law enforcement regarding what led to the shooting or the individual(s) involved “This is an active and ongoing investigation,” said OCSO Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. ORLANDO, Fla. — Homeowners and community leaders in Northwest Orange County have once again reignited a discussion that’s been debated for several decades — annexing South Apopka. The designated census area used to be part of the City of Apopka until segregation took hold during the 1930s. It lifted by the 1970s, but some say South Apopka is still suffering the effects of segregation today. Leroy Bell and Phyllis Olmstead are working to change that. While family through marriage, they say during the time of segregation, they wouldn’t have been allowed to meet up on the same side of the train tracks.  “In 1968 and 1969, we knew not to be caught on the other side of the track. We knew to be on this side,” said Bell. Though much has changed, Bell still clearly remembers the community’s cruel, unforgiving rules of segregation. “There used to be a restaurant on Park Avenue, and it used to have in front of the window, ‘no blacks allowed,’” he said. Olmstead spent many years teaching home healthcare, while visiting homes, and said many had poor living conditions. “One had a man’s underwear stuck in the empty doorknob hole,” said Olmstead. Today, those neglected neighborhoods are still trying to survive. Sometimes the situation is compounded with choices made by elected officials. She said a mountain of trash overshadows one neighborhood in South Apopka. “This backs right up to people’s homes, as you can see,” said Olmstead. County and city leaders allowed the landfill to go in years ago in the predominantly African-American community. “They didn’t deserve this, and it’s history, but it’s also the present. It has become the present, and people are sick and suffering from it,” said Olmstead. That’s why she and other community leaders are fighting for better representation in local government by urging the City of Apopka to right what she calls a wrong, and help people in South Apopka experience a better quality of life.  She wrote a book that documents the city’s divided past, in hopes it will lead to a unified future. “It’s vital for people to know that these hard-working people existed,” said Olmstead. “And people worked together. To begin with, this was one entire community where everyone lived together. Blacks and whites lived side-by-side. They were commingled, and it wasn’t until Jim Crow law was enacted were the Blacks and whites separated across that railroad track.” Olmstead says the future of South Apopka residents won’t change unless Apopka’s dividing line is erased and South Apopka is annexed in. “That invisible line is actually a wall. It’s a wall,” said Olmstead. Apopka city leaders have held several discussions and workshops with residents about the possibility of annexing South Apopka, but so far it’s unclear whether the matter will be put on a ballot for voters to decide. Spectrum Internet® with Starting Speeds of 300 Mbps Now Available
to more than 1,300 Homes and Small Businesses the #1 rural internet provider in the nation* today announced the launch of Spectrum Internet TV and Voice services to more than 1,300 homes and small businesses in Orange County specifically Bithlo/Christmas as well as South Apopka Spectrum’s newly constructed fiber-optic network buildout is part of the company’s investment in unserved rural communities “We are committed to ensuring that Orange County residents are not left behind in bridging the digital divide,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings “Our goal is to provide equal access to the benefits of the digital economy to all residents high-speed internet connects residents to critical services and expands economic opportunities to every community.”  Spectrum has won more than $700 million in state broadband expansion subsidies will deliver high-speed internet access to 300,000 homes and small businesses The company’s RDOF expansion also will provide broadband access to 1.3 million customer locations across 24 states in the coming years “Spectrum is bringing gigabit broadband to unserved communities in Florida and across America,” said Chris Snyder “Our investment is making it possible to deliver the high-value broadband TV and voice services now available in Orange County in the Bithlo/Christmas and South Apopka areas We are providing local residents and small businesses superior connectivity at highly competitive prices backed by a team of skilled local technicians and 100% U.S.-based customer service.” Spectrum Internet delivers speeds up to 1 Gbps and Advanced WiFi for residential and small business customers Spectrum Business Internet offers customers 1 Gbps download speeds The company has also begun a network evolution that will provide gigabit upstream speeds and multiple gigabit download speeds across its entire 41-state service area Spectrum Internet exceeded advertised download and upload speeds for all tiers measured — even during peak weeknight usage between 7 and 11 p.m. — according to the FCC’s most recent “Measuring Broadband America Fixed Broadband Report” issued in January 2023 Spectrum services now available also include Spectrum Mobile™ and Spectrum TV® Spectrum Mobile is the nation’s fastest-growing mobile provider** and combines with Spectrum Internet and Advanced Home WiFi to provide seamless connectivity inside and outside the home Spectrum Mobile provides customers access to nationwide 5G at great value with Unlimited lines starting at $29.99 a month Spectrum TV offers more than 270 HD channels and access to 85,000 On Demand movies and shows Using the Spectrum TV App — the highest-rated pay TV streaming app in the U.S.*** — viewers can stream content across a growing number of platforms Local residents and business owners should visit spectrumruralexpansion.com to learn more about when their home or business may be able to receive Spectrum services * Based on year end 2022 subscriber data among top 3 carriers **iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play) average ratings as of Dec Apps must have at least 150k reviews through combination of iOS & Android store reviews as of Dec Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator with services available to more than 57 million homes and businesses in 41 states the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet® Michael.Pedelty@charter.com ORANGE COUNTY – A 19-year-old man was fatally shot early Wednesday in South Apopka to a shooting reported from the corner of West Celeste Street and South Washington Avenue The 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene the sheriff’s office identified him as Deqwan Markell Chester An investigation is said to be ongoing and no further details were available at the time of this report Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Apopka city leaders are considering a possible annexation of the historically black area of South Apopka it would reunite two communities separated years ago by segregation 714 acres of Apopka are managed by Orange County and some believe the area lacks the services that the rest of Apopka benefits from South Apopka is unincorporated and services such as police and sewer are currently handled by Orange County Apopka mayor Bryan Nelson says the city would have to pay for 15 new police officers a new fire station and a host of infrastructure changes to get South Apopka up to code The city estimates it would cost taxpayers $2 million per year to pay for all the upgraded services That amount includes additional revenue collected by South Apopka homeowners And if the only way you can pay for that defect is with property taxes it would accrue to about two million dollars in property taxes The mayor wants to know why Orange County does not pay for South Apopka upgrades “Why doesn’t the county step in?” he says.  “They are a five billion or six-billion-dollar entity Why don’t they take care of the needs or wants that South Apopka has?” Apopka city commissioner Alexander Smith said the two areas shouldn’t be separate and should be merged as one “South Apopka has been isolated from the city and not involved in city government for them to play a role in city government as to who the mayor or city commissioners are they need to be city residents,” said Smith Smith says it would cost all Apopka residents around $14 a year in higher property taxes to make the change Francina Boykin was born in South Apopka 72 years ago She says the city has been talking about annexation since the 1980s It was called Dolly Quarters back then,” said Boykin The long-time resident feels annexation would not change anything Both the mayor and commissioner say they are still taking input from residents along with completing local studies to determine Apopka’s future as one city The mayor said annexation could get on the ballot by March 2024 Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsBrenda Argueta ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An arrest has been made months after a man was found shot to death in Apopka The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Joseph Arthur Austin 30 shooting that killed 36-year-old Travis Rashard Grubbs Grubbs was found dead in the area of 10th Street and Central Avenue [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] Details of what led to the shooting have not been released Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021 She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday — A third arrest has been made in the death of a 19-year-old who was found shot to death on Old Apopka Road just over a month ago.  is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Ahmad Alonzo Davis.  Smith is the third person arrested in the fatal shooting on December 30 were arrested in the shooting earlier this month They were charged with accessory after the fact of first-degree murder.  Davis' death was the first in a string of homicides in South Apopka.  authorities say Altonio Dunston was found shot to death inside a home on Ella J Maurice Bridges was found fatally shot at the same home.  Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff's Office say these were all targeted crimes and not random "We know there are some issues and we want to try to head them off," said Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson Nelson says the city is working on some long-term solutions like connecting people with each other and to law enforcement which share jurisdiction of South Apopka with the city Deputies are even riding through neighborhoods on mounted horse patrol the three homicides are still under investigation.  Orlando, Fla. (March 14, 2017) – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando will break ground on the organization’s third planned community, Arbor Bend, which will feature 34 homes upon completion in 2019. In addition, Habitat for Humanity of Seminole County and Greater Apopka will break ground on Juniper Bend both organizations will bring 58 single-family homes to the South Apopka The ground breaking event will take place at 1221 S The event will feature remarks from Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs; Mayor of Apopka Joe Kilsheimer and Francina Boykin from the Apopka Historical Society “Arbor Bend and Juniper Bend represent new beginnings and we are excited that it is a collaborative effort bringing affordable housing to the South Apopka community,” said Catherine Steck McManus president and CEO of Habitat Greater Orlando “One of the greatest challenges for many families – both here and across the U.S – is the lack of sufficient affordable housing and rental options,” said Mayor Jacobs “This affordable housing partnership in Apopka is just one example of Orange County’s solid commitment to strategically expanding our housing options.” executive director of Habitat Seminole-Apopka “Homeownership creates generational change for both the families and the community and a project of this size will have significant impact for Apopka.” To apply and view the criteria for homeownership with Habitat Greater Orlando, visit www.habitat-orlando.org/apply. To apply and view the criteria for homeownership with Habitat Seminole-Apopka, visit www.habitatseminoleapopka.org/homeownership Maintenance on the Baily bridges at Country Road 448A has been completed ahead of schedule and the St Johns River Water Management District has reopened the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive to vehicular traffic The drive is a one-way, 11-mile drive meandering through the eastern portion of the District’s Lake Apopka North Shore property Visitors will want to plan for approximately one to three hours to complete the experience depending on the usage and how many stops they choose to make along the way Stopping is limited to designated pull-outs provided along the length of the drive The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive entrance gate is open for vehicular traffic between 7 a.m For more information and to access an audio tour, visit our website at www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/lake-apopka/wildlife-drive For the most up-to-date list of open District properties, visit our website at www.sjrwmd.com/meetings-announcements Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the district and the state of Florida Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state The district encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties and staff also are available to serve the public at service centers in Apopka For more information about the district, please visit www.sjrwmd.com We value your opinion. Please take a few minutes to share your comments on the service you received from the District by clicking this link 07mar(mar 7)6:30 pm26dec(dec 26)9:30 pmVFW Bingo March 7 (Friday) 6:30 pm - December 26 (Friday) 9:30 pm 25apr(apr 25)6:30 pm13feb(feb 13)9:30 pmVFW Bingo April 25 (Friday) 6:30 pm - February 13 (Friday) 9:30 pm 05may7:00 pm9:00 pmGroveland City Council Meeting meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays' of the month meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays’ of the month 06may12:00 pm1:30 pmLunch With Clermont Mayor Murry Join Mayor Murry on the first Tuesday of each month for lunch and City updates at rotating Clermont restaurants (subject to change – check with the city of Clermont for updates) 06may12:00 pm1:30 pmLunch With Clermont Mayor Tim Murry Clermont residents are invited to join Mayor Tim Murry for his monthly open forum community lunch held on the first Tuesday of every month at noon The May luncheon will be held on May 6 at Amores Italian Restaurant These informal gatherings provide a valuable opportunity for residents to hear updates on city plans learn about the opportunities and challenges facing the Clermont City Council Mayor Murry will share key developments and initiatives happening throughout the city offering insight into ongoing and future projects that impact the community the mayor encourages attendees to bring their questions “This is a time for open conversation,” said Mayor Murry “I want to make sure residents feel heard and informed about what’s happening in their city.” The casual setting fosters meaningful dialogue and helps strengthen the connection between city leadership and the community contact the city’s official website or call 352-227-2003 08may10:00 am11:30 amBuild Your Bones! 10may7:00 am1:00 pmThe Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive - U.S. Postal Service The Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will take place on Saturday simply leave a bag of non-perishable food next to your mailbox for Johns River Water Management District will reopen the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive for public use beginning Oct The drive has been closed since the end of September when Hurricane Ian left the property inundated with water For the more information and to access an audio tour, visit our website at www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/lake-apopka/wildlife-drive DAYTONA BEACH — A good Samaritan who deputies say stopped to try and help someone get his vehicle out of a ditch was instead killed in a "planned execution" coordinated by three people according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office are charged with first-degree murder in what investigators are calling a murder-for-hire plot to prevent the victim from testifying as a victim in a road rage case against McFoley  [READ MORE: Ambushed Deltona veteran's stolen truck also involved in hit-and-run] at the intersection of Malaga Avenue and Puritan Street in Deltona He was found dead near a disabled vehicle that was stuck in the grass along the road He was also killed less than a month before he was scheduled to give a deposition in the road rage case The disabled vehicle at the scene was determined to be stolen out of Orange County Cruz-Echevarria's truck was later found burned in south Apopka Based on the evidence available at the outset of the investigation it initially appeared Cruz-Echevarria was shot and killed for his truck according to sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant but detectives later learned that wasn't the case "I've been a cop for 32 years and this is one of the most heinous cowardly acts that I've ever witnessed," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said during a media conference Thursday Bascom was linked to the disabled vehicle by DNA evidence Deputies said Bascom was the shooter and was hired by McFoley to eliminate Cruz-Echevarria as a witness in a road rage incident by killing him phone record data from two crime scenes — the area of the shooting and from the area where the truck was found in Apopka — also linked Bascom to the killing His cellphone was in use in both Deltona and Apopka during the time frame of the incidents Bascom spent days doing surveillance on Cruz-Echevarria and had planned to shoot and kill him assisted Bascom during the planning stages and was called to the scene to help Bascom escape after he had killed the victim "They were actually stalking the victim," Henderson said Cruz-Echevarria's brother-in-law has an administrative job at the Volusia County Sheriff's Office He attended Thursday's news conference along with his sister detectives said Cruz-Echevarria was in his vehicle behind McFoley who didn’t move his car after the light turned green who later pulled up next to him at another intersection and asked Cruz-Echevarria whether he had a problem but maybe you do," according to an arrest affidavit More words were exchanged between the two men before McFoley pulled a gun out of his glove box and pointed it at Cruz-Echevarria Cruz-Echevarria reported the incident to law enforcement and identified McFoley in a photo lineup provided by the Sheriff's Office Cruz-Echevarria was scheduled to give a sworn deposition in the case A court document announcing the scheduled deposition was filed Oct 23 and it disclosed Cruz-Echevarria's address Cruz-Echevarria's house started being staked out by Bascom "Carlos did not deserve to die," Chitwood said (who) once again illustrate that human life is cheap on the street A road rage incident where a man does what he's supposed to do notify the police (and) cooperate with the system His thanks is to wind up with multiple bullets in his head and killed just outside of his home." known to the Sheriff's Office as a heroin dealer has 29 previous felony charges with one conviction and nine previous misdemeanors with three convictions "His criminal history meant his latest charges carried the potential for significant prison time if he was convicted," Gant said Bascom was arrested Wednesday by Orlando police at Orlando International Airport McFoley and Rios-Roque were each arrested Tuesday McFoley was arrested by members of the U.S Marshals Service Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force while working for a moving company in Orlando Rios-Roque was arrested by Volusia County sheriff's detectives on Interstate 4 in Volusia County who heads the Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit said Orange County detectives are looking at Bascom in killings there A spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday DON'T MISS AN EPISODE, SUBSCRIBE: iTunes |Google Play ORLANDO – In the final game of the FHSAA football championship weekend the defending class 8A champion Blue Darters of Apopka played the South Dade Buccaneers Both teams boasted a 13-1 record coming into the game The headline coming into the game was the Darter offense and the opportunity to break a state record in season points At the onset of play replacement quarterback Chandler Cox donned hurt teammate’s Zack Darlington’s #6 jersey South Dade on the other hand was just trying to capture their first state title in their first try ever By the end of the night even though Apopka did break the scoring record; the Buccaneers went on to dethroned the defending champs 41 to 28 the Blue Darter offense failed to register any points in the first quarter But the South Dade offense clicked right away On the second play from scrimmage quarterback Khalil Render found C.J With a few blocks Worton ran 67 yards into the end zone Then with a little over six minute left on the clock South Dade started their second drive But that end in 18 seconds when Render first raced 59 yards then threw a strike to Tyre’ Brady Brady took that pass 24 yards in for the second score in the opening quarter But on a crucial drive the Apopka defense came alive and forced the Buccaneers to punt Upon which they drove the field and scored when running back J.J Simmons took a handoff three yards around the left side to score That was immediately followed by a drop back pass from Chandler Cox to Christian Velasquez that went 74 yards and for a Blue Darter score South Dade took little time answering only using three plays to score Render found Tarviant Williams for a 71 yard passing touchdown Williams was aided by Worton who escorted his teammate with blocking downfield into the end zone Both teams faltered in the last six minutes of the second quarter and didn’t score Cox closed the half with a pass that was intercepted Fresh out of half once again the quick offense of South Dade was put on display After only gaining 17 yards on three plays CJ Worton changed that with a long catch and run for touchdown Then after a switch of possessions Apopka drove the length of the field in 10 plays taking 4:16 off the clock The drive was ended with a tough Simmons run up the gut of the Buccaneer defense for touchdown But the drive was answered when South Dade drove the field themselves Once again coming to the aid of his quarterback Cj Worton caught a quarter ending 10 yard pass in the end zone Worton finished his night with six grabs for 159 yards and three touchdowns “We weren’t favored in this game but we knew we had a chance As much as a big night it was for me it was even bigger for the team as a whole First every school title,” said South Dade wideout C.J Dade took a 13 point lead into the final quarter of the game But that lead did not last long as Apopka stormed back with a drive of their own that ended in a touchdown Simmons caught a 7 yard pass on fourth down to cut into the Buccaneer lead South Dade looked to close the game when they received the ball as they drove the length of the field in a little over five minutes But Apopka’s defense bent but did not break Ben Bascom intercepted Render in the end zone with 2:29 left to give his high scoring offense another chance Backed up after a penalty Chandler Cox started a 97 yard march down field to win the 8A championship But the drive never really materialized due to a slew of penalties Apopka tried to do a hook-and-ladder and failed resulting in a fumble Tyre’ Brady recovered the fumbled ball and returned it for a touchdown to close out the Buccaneer victory We had our shots to pull even and even go ahead Credit to Nate on the other side for having his team ready,” stated Rick Darlington This marked the first ever championship in school history for the South Dade Buccaneers Please enter your username or email address to reset your password