A 13-year-old boy is recovering after being caught in the crossfire of an argument that ended in gunfire Thursday night. Orange County deputies said the boy was an innocent bystander hit by a stray bullet.
The shooting happened by the Lakeview Pointe Apartments, along Rio Grande Avenue, south of I-4 and just west of Orange Blossom Trail.
Deputies said the teen who was shot was an innocent bystander who was several buildings away from a group of other teens, who started fighting behind the apartment complex.
At some point, deputies said, a gun was pulled and shots were fired. Neighbors called 911, and the group of teens took off running.
No one in the group involved in the fight was hurt, but one of the bullets struck the 13-year-old.
Now, detectives said they are trying to find the shooter. Deputies caught and questioned one person who initially ran from them, but at this time they are calling him a "person of interest," and not a suspect.
"We had an individual that we were looking at on scene that was suspicious," said Lt. Mike Crabb, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "When we tried to approach him, he fled on foot. We had a foot chase on that and a K-9 apprehension on him. He's not listed as a suspect right now, though. He's just suspicious and a person of interest in the shooting."
The victim was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital. Deputies said his injuries were not life-thretening, and he was expected to make a full recovery.