ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County deputies are seeking the public's help in finding the killer of an Orlando teenager found fatally shot in his home last week.
A Crimeline reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest in the death of 17-year-old Justin Machado. Deputies said a relative found the boy's body at the boy's home on Lynchburg Court on Jan. 9.
"The family has been devastated by his death. Justin Machado had no criminal record and was known as a kindhearted kid, very well known to many of his peers," deputies said in a news release. "Detectives need the community help, we continue to ask that if anyone saw or spoke to Justin Machado prior to his death, to please call the (Orange County Sheriff's Office) or Crimeline."
Orange County Sheriff's Office homicide unit detective Justin Wall spoke at a news conference Friday, urging anyone with information, even if it seems like a small detail, to step forward.
“We want to bring resolution and justice to the family of Justin Machado, who is a loving family and raised him and, like I said, he had his whole life ahead of him,” Wall said.
No motive has been established for the shooting and no suspects have been identified, but deputies released a surveillance photo of a silver Infiniti with a sunroof and stock rims that was in the area around the time of Machado's death.
Wall said authorities are trying to locate the vehicle and its driver.
A GoFundMe account has been created to help cover Machado's funeral expenses.
Anyone who was in contact with Machado after school hours or who saw anything suspicious around the Lynchburg Court residence is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).