Local

1 year later, still no arrest in Pine Hills party killing

PINE HILLS, Fla. — It's been more than a year since an Orange County man was shot to death at a party, yet no arrests have been in the case.

At least 50 people were there the night Demetrius Vanschiack was killed, and detectives believe there are plenty of witnesses who won't come forward.

Vanschiack's family drove from Atlanta overnight to speak to the media Friday morning, and they're making a plea for the arrest of the killer.

"Someone knows who did this. I am here to beg you, please do not keep this information to yourself. My family and I need to know so we can finally let Demetrius rest in peace," said Vanschiack's mother, Dana Vanschiack,

The 18-year-old Apopka High School student was killed at a party at a vacant home in Pine Hills in October 2011.

One person captured the aftermath of the shooting on a cellphone, and the video shows rescuers trying in vain to save the teen.

Investigators said nearly 60 teenagers were at the party, and they believe someone knows who pulled the trigger that night, but for whatever reason, witnesses are afraid to come forward.

Detectives said they have a good idea who actually pulled the trigger, but they need a witness to come forward, willing to testify to what they saw.

Otherwise, authorities said they don't believe they'd have a prosecutable case.

Dana Vanschiack said not knowing who killed her son only compounds the grief

“We want to make sure that no other mother, no other family has to experience the anger, the pain, the loss and the grief that my family and I have gone through over the last year,” she said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.