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Teen arrested in shooting of 17-year-old outside Publix in Celebration

Shooting happened on Blake Boulevard

CELEBRATION, Fla. – A teen was arrested after a 17-year-old was shot and injured Wednesday outside a Publix in Celebration, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

Morrell Deon Lee Jr., 17, was arrested after a SWAT team executed a search warrant at his residence, deputies said Thursday. He faces several charges, including attempted premeditated murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The shooting happened at 29 Blake Blvd. in the parking lot of a Publix, which sits between Celebration Avenue and the Central Florida GreeneWay.

Investigators said the teen got into a fight with Lee prior to the shooting.

An update on Thursday said the victim was able to identify the shooter, which led to Lee’s arrest.

[STORY CONTINUES BELOW]

Morrell Deon Lee Jr. (Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

Another person was arrested when deputies identified a blue vehicle involved in the incident. The suspect was booked into the Polk County jail on criminal traffic violations, and other charges are forthcoming, deputies said.

Witnesses said they were scared when shots rang out.

“Once I saw the shooting was happening, I got up and I ran inside as fast as I could to let them know...” Instacart shopper Michael Thompson told News 6. “A lot us were crying; I was freaking out.”

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said the shooting victim is expected to survive.

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About the Authors
Jacob Langston headshot

Jacob joined ClickOrlando.com in 2022. He spent 19 years at the Orlando Sentinel, mostly as a photojournalist and video journalist, before joining Spectrum News 13 as a web editor and digital journalist in 2021.

Brenda Argueta headshot

Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday.

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