ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – In hopes of receiving information that leads to an arrest, the Crimeline reward has once again been increased for tips related to a Boone High School student's shooting death.
Weeks after 15-year-old Alejandro Vargas Martinez was fatally shot while walking to school, Orange County deputies have not identified a suspect in the case.
Lead homicide Detective Brian Savelli said Wednesday afternoon that deputies hope the increase in the Crimeline reward from $10,000 to $15,000 will prompt any potential witnesses to come forward.
"We definitely want justice, we want this to be solved," the victim's aunt, Dolka Martinez, said. "I know this will not bring him back, but at least we would be in peace that that killer is paying for what he did and so it won’t happen to any other family."
Savelli said authorities are confident there were other people in the area at the time of the shooting on Dec. 18 around 6:30 a.m.
"If you saw anything or you heard anything, call us and let us investigate that," Savelli said.
Many people have already called in to Crimeline to submit tips about the shooting and a vehicle of interest that was captured on surveillance video around the time that Martinez was killed.
Deputies said they have not identified the make or model of that vehicle.
When asked about a motive, Savelli would not say if one had been identified. He said Martinez was a good teen who worked a part-time job in order to help his mom pay the bills.
Martinez last spoke to his mother on the phone as he was walking to school the morning he was shot, and during that conversation, he told her he'd use money he earned working at Winn-Dixie to help pay for part of the month's light bill, according to deputies.
"It's just unfortunate that it happened to such a good family," Savelli said.
Deputies said Wednesday the case remains open and active and they are still seeking the public's assistance.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).
Donations to Martinez's family can be made through GoFundMe or through a memorial fund established by Orange County Public Schools.