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One Man Dead After Baseball Bats, Poles Used In Violent Brawl

Sunday, October 12, 2008 – updated: 1:44 pm EDT October 13, 2008

Orange County deputies were searching Monday for a suspect involved in a violent brawl that left one man dead.


RAW VIDEO: Victim's Mother, Sister Speak To Channel 9
SLIDESHOW: Images From The Scene

Investigators said at least five people were involved in a fight that broke out Saturday night on 5th Avenue (see map) in Taft.

Robert Terrell died during what witnesses said was an out of control brawl.

"Everybody's got their problems, but they don't have the right to go beat somebody, kill somebody like that. It's not right, it's just not right," said Robert's mother, Doris Haase.

Eyewitnesses said the men used metal poles, baseball bats and wooden table legs to beat each other. Car windows were broken and pieces of glass littered the street.

"When they put up that crime van and stuff, I knew somebody died," said eyewitness Robert Davis.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found three men with head injuries. Police said they have a possible suspect in custody, but another suspect managed to get away.

"We know that we have alcohol involved. We've heard that this may have been precipitated by something over a female," said Sgt. Allen Lee of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took the weapons used into evidence. Taft residents said that crime has become more violent recently.

Haase said losing her son Robert is hard and she is holding out hope that her other son Gary, who was also involved, survives.

"I'm just praying to God that he makes it. He's not doing too good either," said Haase.

The two injured men are in critical condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center. If you have any information, you are asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

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