ORLANDO, Fla. – A 4-year-old girl and three women were found shot to death in an Orange County home early Friday after another woman ran to a neighbor’s house for help, according to the sheriff.
The bodies were found just after 4 a.m. at a home on Myers Drive near Dean Road and Flowers Avenue.
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Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at an afternoon news conference that a 49-year-old woman, her two daughters, ages 28 and 29, and her grandchild, a 4-year-old, were the victims. Mina also said two children — a 4-year-old and 6-year-old — were found safe in the residence after they hid under some blankets during the shooting.
The suspect, 23-year-old Shavell Jordan Jones, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital, where he was undergoing surgery, the sheriff said.
According to Mina, Jones was in a relationship with the 29-year-old woman found dead in the home and started shooting at the family members following an argument with his girlfriend.
Mina said another woman, a daughter of the 49-year-old, was also shot, but she was able to run to the home of a neighbor, who called 911.
“I’m a father, I can’t imagine or fathom such an incident involving my loved ones,” Mina said. “And although this will be very difficult for detectives, as they’re all mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles of young children, they’re gonna work very, very hard to find some answers and put the pieces together so we can find out why this happened.”
The sheriff said the woman who survived is the mother of all three young children. The 4-year-old who was shot to death was a twin of one of the children who hid under the blankets, Mina said.
Mina said Jones does not have previous criminal history and there was no history of domestic violence. According to Mina, Jones will face murder charges if he survives.
An investigation is ongoing.
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