ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police are investigating the city's first homicide of 2019.
The shooting was reported shortly before 11:50 a.m. Wednesday near Polk and Jefferson streets.
Police said they found a victim in a driveway on West Jefferson Street when they arrived, but he later died. He was identified by police Thursday as 16-year-old Denim Williams.
A witness told News 6 that Williams was shot in the head inside a car, but police have not released any other details about the shooting.
The woman who lives in the house where the car came to a stop said she woke up to the police.
"I just got a knock at the door, and a cop told me there was a dead body," she said. "I think before they even got here -- that’s when I heard a, 'pop, pop,' but I was assuming it was fireworks."
She said her 8-year-old son was at home with her when they realized the sounds were not fireworks, but gunfire.
"His bedroom is in the back, too, where the bullet hole was found, so I'm just glad that he's OK," she said.
Lawanna Gelzer, a community activist in the town of Parramore, owns a day care one block from where the shooting took place.
Gelzer said she was just returning from vacation when she learned the first homicide of the year had taken place in her community.
"I'm so sorry for this tragedy the first of the year. I'm just returning back from vacation. I've been gone and to walk into this. It's a devastating thing," Gelzer said.
She said she's tired of seeing her community suffer and hopes community members and law enforcement will put in the effort to improve the area.
"When you build great relationships with the community, people won't be afraid and won't shut down when something happens and fail to tell you what's going on in the community," Gelzer said.
Gelzer said she knows crime is everywhere, but she hopes the people of Parramore can do better.
Police said they're interviewing multiple people and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the shooting.
