Local

Orange County standoff ends; Suspect was not in house

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The hunt continues Tuesday night for an armed carjacker who prompted a massive SWAT situation in a small Orange County neighborhood.

Sheriff's deputies thought the teen suspect was holed up in a home inside the Winter Run community off of Conroy Road.

No one was inside the home when deputies were able to make entry.

An entire neighborhood was lined with law enforcement vehicles.

"They told us, "Yeah. You've got to pack your stuff and get out," said resident Odell McKnight.

Neighbors were evacuated and kept away from their homes for hours.

"I've got to do a job and right now, I can't get in. Didn't give no reason. They're looking for somebody I guess," said neighbor Edwin Velez.

The Sheriff's Department brought in armored vehicles and deputies armed with assault rifles.

"All I know is multiple carjackings, he's wanted for multiple carjackings in the area," said Jeff Williamson with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The 16-year-old is accused of robbing at least two cab drivers for their cash, and carjacking them.

"I talked to the kid a couple of times. Kind of hard. Very quiet guy," said McKnight.

Investigators believed the teen was inside the house. They said his mother, who wouldn't cooperate with them, left the house. That's when the stand-off started.

The standoff continued for more than five hours. Eventually deputies used tear gas and heavy equipment to ram their way in.

Once inside they found the suspect wasn't home.

"He is a suspect at large. We are continuing to look for him," said Williamson.

Investigators have not released the teen's name.