Grandson of woman, 83, killed in Orlando shootout arrested on attempted murder charge

ORLANDO, Fla. — A 25-year-old Orlando man was arrested Thursday evening on charges of attempted first-degree murder, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies said earlier Thursday that they had issued an arrest warrant for Cory Steplight, the grandson of Ruby Steplight, an 83-year-old woman killed in an exchange of gunfire that also hurt four others.

He faced a judge Friday morning who granted him a half-million dollar bond.

Investigators said Cory Steplight fired at four people at a home on 24th Street in Orlando on Saturday.

Deputies said the shootings stemmed from an argument over money between Cory Steplight and Billy Desrosiers, who was already in custody.

A witness said an unidentified friend of Cory Steplight was the first to open fire. Desrosiers was charged in connection with Ruby Steplight's death.

Report: Shooting that killed 83-year-old woman started with fight over money

Cory Steplight is no stranger to law enforcement or to news headlines. When he was 12 years old, police arrested him for allegedly trying to swallow crack cocaine to hide evidence.

Deputies said he was implicated a year later in the murder of Marcus Mason. He was acquitted of the murder but convicted of stealing the victim’s truck for its expensive rims and stereo system.

Bryan Nevarez, who was 15 years old at the time of Mason’s murder, is now serving a 30-year sentence for that crime.

Channel 9 covered the sentencing in 2008. Ruby Steplight was in court as her grandson was sentenced to a year in jail and 10 months probation.

Video from that day shows the judge warning Cory Steplight to never return to his grandmother's home.

“If I give you a chance, I expect you to do the best with it. If you throw it away, then I (will) send you to prison,” Judge Julie O’Kane said in 2008.

Cory Steplight was still living at his grandmother’s home when the shootings happened 10 years later.

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Watch: Vigil held for 83-year-old woman killed in Orange County shooting

In the decade since that day, Cory Steplight was arrested several times on weapons, drug and domestic violence charges. He was convicted on some charges but cleared on others and was serving probation.

Anyone with knowledge of the shooting is asked to call Crimeline at 407-423-8477.

Cox Media Group