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Homeowner shoots, kills burglar during Lake County home invasion, deputies say

CLERMONT, Fla. — A tenant said he shot at several people who were trying to break into his Clermont apartment early Sunday, killing one, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies responded to the home invasion at Raintree Apartments on Raintree Bend at 2 a.m.

The apartment tenant told deputies that four people attempted to enter his apartment.

The tenant told deputies one of the intruders, Aswad Emmanuel Velazquez, 22, shot at him, and the bullet went past his face. The tenant said he shot back in self-defense and killed Velazquez, deputies said.

"He (the tenant) hit the suspect, the suspect went down, got back up and tried to shoot him again. That's when he shot the suspect multiple times," said Fred Jones with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Isiah Velazquez, Tareak Ilarreza and Lawrence Alexis, all from Sanford, face charges of burglary to a structure while armed, second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The suspects took Aswad Velasquez to Celebration hospital where he died, deputies said.

Lawrence Alexis is accused of firing at a neighbor, who was not injured, deputies said.

The tenant was at home with his wife and children, Sgt. Fred Jones said. One of the bullets from the suspects ricocheted and hit the wife in the foot, deputies said. She is expected to be OK.

The suspects are being held at the Osceola County Jail without bail.

Deputies said they don't plan to suggest charges for the apartment tenant.

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