Deputies: Possible gang-related shooting injures 2 teenagers

A possible gang-related shooting left two teens injured at an apartment complex near Texas Avenue and Americana Boulevard on Thursday, deputies said.

The shooting happened at Millenia West Apartments around 5:30 p.m., officials said.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said deputies have been aggressively combating the gang problem in the area for several months.

“There’s no question that there’s some gang activity here,” said Demings.

The 17-year-old was shot in the abdomen and taken into surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition, sheriff’s office Lt. Paul Hopkins said.

The 13-year-old was shot in the back and taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with injuries that were not life-threatening, Hopkins said.

Demings said the two teens were targeted and the suspects are likely other teenagers. There was a confrontation, but it’s not clear what led up to the shooting.

Deputies have been working to “rid this area of violent activity, in particular gang activity,” Demings said.

“Whenever it involves children it is a heightened awareness for all of us,” Demings said. “And it should be a heightened awareness for this whole community.”

Jeremy Martz, who’s lived in the area for 35 years, said he heard yelling and commotion followed by cops responding to the apartment complex.

“[There is crime] constantly, all the time, daily,” Martz said.

The shooting comes a day after two other shootings at Orange County apartment complexes.

A 22-year-old man was fatally shot Wednesday at the Campus Crossing Alafaya apartment complex near the University of Central Florida. Deputies are still searching for the shooting suspect.

A 37-year-old man was fatally shot by an Orlando police officer after a confrontation Wednesday at the Palmas Altas apartment complex in southeast Orlando.

Anyone with information regarding any of the cases should contact Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.