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Man pleads for help after son, 16, was abducted in Winter Garden

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — The family of an Orange County teenager is searching for answers after their son was abducted, and they fear he might have been shot.

An Amber Alert was issued at about 7 p.m. Friday after Winter Garden police said Bruce Hagans Jr., 16, was kidnapped. Officers said they have few leads in the case.

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“Every time you see him, he'd have a smile on his face,” said Bruce Haggins Sr., Hagans' father.

Police said Hagans, who is 6 feet, 2 inches, was wearing a gray shirt when he was taken by a man with dreadlocks driving a dark gray Infiniti G37.

Police said the incident occurred at Lincoln Terrace. They said a struggle ensued in the vehicle and shots were fired but no blood or shell casings were discovered at the scene.

Haggins said Hagans was a rising junior at West Orange High School.

“We would talk about different things, and he would tell me about how he was going to do some changes in his life,” Haggins said. "He wanted to go back to playing football."

Haggins said he has been searching ditches and ponds in the area hoping for any sign of his son.

"This is eating away at me. And each day, it frustrates me more and more and more," he said. "Anybody out there (who is) listening to my voice and (who sees) my face -- please -- if you know where my son is, please say something. Tell somebody before it's too late.”

Anyone with information on Hagans' whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Winter Garden police at 407-877-5482.

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