ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A 15-year-old Florida teen was shot and killed while walking to school on Tuesday morning, deputies say.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Alejandro Vargas Martinez, 15, was found shot near the intersection of Waldo Street and Kaley Avenue around 6:30 a.m. Deputies say he was found about a half a mile from Boone High School. Authorities say the teen lived nearby and walked to school every day.
Deputies initially responded to a report of shots fired, when they found Martinez suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
"Certainly the death of a child, a 15-year-old, is extremely tragic and to happen one week before Christmas, I can't imagine how the parents are feeling right now," Sheriff John Mina said.
OCSO @SheriffMina briefs the media about the early morning shooting death of a 15-year-old Boone High School student. pic.twitter.com/gwbjnAPQxY
— OCSO FL News (@OrangeCoSheriff) December 18, 2018
Authorities have not released any information about a possible suspect at this time. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information regarding the case to contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.
The Florida Sheriff's Association is offering a $10,000 reward in the search for Martinez's killer or killers, the sheriff's office announced Tuesday evening.
Following the news, Boone High School released the following statement on Facebook:
"Boone High families, we have some very sad news to share with you. We were made aware by law enforcement that early this morning one of our students was tragically killed on the way to school. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they go through this extremely difficult time. Your child may speak with you and share this sad news. Students will have varied reactions to the death of a peer. Any reaction is normal in the grief process and I encourage you to openly discuss with your child their feelings and reactions. We will have a crisis team on campus to provide counseling assistance for students and staff. In addition, out of an abundance of caution, we will have additional law enforcement presence on campus. The safety and well-being of our students is my top priority. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions or concerns. – Principal Dusty Johns"
