A 70-year-old woman was shot three times in the back while walking to a bus stop in Orlando, Florida, on what she described as her daily morning routine, according to authorities.
Background
The shooting occurred near the 1000 block of Egan Drive in Orange County, where the victim told investigators she had been walking through her neighborhood when she noticed an unfamiliar man approaching her. The woman said she turned away from him near a bus stop and began walking in the opposite direction, but he followed and shot her three times in her back.
According to an affidavit filed in Orange County, a witness who was outside his home in the area saw a shirtless man wearing black shorts whom he described as appearing "suspicious." The witness went inside to retrieve his firearm. When he returned, he observed the suspect walk up to the woman at the bus stop and shoot her three times in her back before fleeing the scene.
The witness told investigators he did not hear any exchange between the victim and the shooter prior to the gunfire. He immediately called 911 to report the incident.
The Investigation
Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and located the victim, who was transported to a hospital by paramedics. While receiving treatment, she provided investigators with a statement describing how an unknown male had approached her during her routine walk and shot her without warning or explanation.
Detectives identified Kevin Millares, 27, as their suspect in the shooting. When authorities executed a search warrant at a residence where they believed Millares was located, they recovered "an unspent Hornady .380 bullet inside of a magazine," which matched the ammunition found at the crime scene, according to court documents.
Investigators also seized a black pair of shorts and black-and-white slides from the master bedroom that authorities said matched the clothing worn by the suspect captured on video walking through the neighborhood before the shooting.
Millares has been charged with attempted first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charge during a court appearance on Thursday, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
Key Takeaways
- The 70-year-old victim was shot three times in the back while on her daily morning walk near a bus stop on Egan Drive in Orlando
- She told investigators she did not know the suspect and had no reason for why he targeted her
- Kevin Millares, 27, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder; he pleaded not guilty during a Thursday court appearance
- Investigators recovered matching ammunition and clothing at Millares's residence that aligned with evidence from the crime scene
What's Next
Millares is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for further proceedings. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to examine evidence related to the shooting.
The victim survived the attack and provided a detailed account of the incident while being treated at a local hospital.