Officials link man arrested in robbery to killing
Court documents filed by prosecutors last week implicate an Orlando man in the still-unsolved killing of Alejandro Vargas Martinez, the 15-year-old Boone High School student who was shot to death while walking to school in December.
Deandre Eugene Florence, 19, is currently being held in the Orange County jail as he faces charges in the killing of another teenager — 16-year-old Denim Williams, who was shot and killed during a robbery in Orlando’s first homicide of 2019. Authorities said Denim and Florence tried to rob a man selling a cellphone in Parramore, when Denim was shot by the phone’s owner Jan. 2.
Because police said Denim was killed in the commission of a felony, Florida law allows Florence to be charged in the killing. Florence has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree felony murder and manslaughter.
According to a new court filing in that case, Florence is suspected in a series of burglaries and car thefts between Nov. 23 and Jan. 1. The document also accuses Florence of first-degree felony murder in Alejandro’s killing.
“On December 18, 2018, the Defendant did, in Orange County, Florida, commit first degree felony murder, and as a result, Alejandro Vargas Martinez was killed as the result of the discharge of a firearm,” Assistant State Attorney William Jay wrote in the filing.
On Feb. 13, Orange County and Orlando detectives spoke with Florence about the homicide of Alejandro, records show. According to the interview transcript, Florence told investigators Alejandro was shot and killed while someone was trying to steal his phone.
But Florence changed the shooter’s identity, including pointing the finger at Williams, who he initially said told him was done in self-defense.
“He thought he had a gun. And he said it’s his life or [Alejandro’s] life. That he — that he told me,” Florence said.
He also changed his story of what happened to the gun, leading investigators to a lake near College Park before saying the gun was sold to someone else, records show.
Florence insisted he wasn’t there when Alejandro was killed.
His lawyer, David Glicken, said he has not been presented with any evidence proving Florence’s involvement with Alejandro’s killing.
“I do not know what Mr. Jay is relying upon,” Glicken said Tuesday afternoon. “… There is a big difference between alleging something and proving something, and as far as this allegation, I have not seen any evidence whatsoever that Mr. Florence was in any way involved in the killing of anyone, including Mr. Martinez.”
The documents did not provide any other details about the alleged link between Florence and Alejandro’s killing. Florence is not currently facing charges in Alejandro’s death.
On New Year’s Day, the day before the shooting involving Denim, he and Florence burglarized a pawn shop on South Orange Blossom Trail, stealing about $17,000 worth of tablets, computers, sunglasses and cameras with the intent of reselling the merchandise, authorities said. Florence has pleaded not guilty in that case.
He’s being held in the Orange County Jail without bond.