ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — Orange County deputies are searching for the person who they said shot a 16-year-old boy in the neck, leaving him partially paralyzed early Friday morning.
The teenager was found shot in the neck, lying in the yard of his friend's Pine Hills home on Karl Lane, according to deputies. The shooting happened at around 1:45 a.m.
The victim was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Deputies said the victim, whose name has not been released, is in stable condition and his injuries are not considered life-threatening.
"When our units arrived, they located the victim on the ground unable to speak or move," said Capt. Denise Rollins, of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "The FD arrived, realized he couldn't speak [and] immediately set up a communication process where he could blink once for 'no' and two for 'yes.' They went back and forth with small questions."
Rescuers determined through blinking communication that the boy had been shot by an unknown person.
"When he was asked if he inflicted this wound on himself, his blinking answer was, 'no.' If he knew who shot him, his blinking answer was 'no,'" said Rollins.
Inside the house, deputies found a gun, but they don't know if it's the gun the 16-year-old was shot with.
Investigators said there are a number of people who frequent or live at the house. They're hoping someone can tell them something about how the boy was shot.
Investigators said they haven't been able to find the boy's friend who he was visiting.
WFTV was told that the owner of the house cooperated with investigators.
Deputies said they have no suspect information.