ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A 23-year-old man was killed in an Orange County shooting early Friday morning, deputies said.
Authorities said they were called to the area of 18th Street and South Westmoreland Drive just before 1 a.m., where they found Joseph Phillips suffering from serious injuries.
“I heard a lot of gunshots. That’s all I heard,” said resident Donald Randall.
Phillips was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he later died.
Bullet holes riddled the front of homes, windows and mailboxes, while memorials were seen set up throughout the neighborhood.
His family said Phillips was riding a bike when he was shot.
“Every time I pass through, somebody (gets) shot and killed,” Randall said.
Family members and friends gathered around a makeshift memorial in front of the home where he was killed.
No arrests have been made as deputies are still searching for a suspect.
The shooting death marks the first homicide of 2015 in Orange County.
The number of homicides last year nearly surpassed the record number in Orange County from 2008.
There were 71 homicides in 2013, just short of the record 74 in 2008.
Residents worry if something isn’t done by law enforcement, that number will become much higher in 2015.
Also on Friday, deputies said they are investigating another shooting on Calumet Drive in Orange County, where a man was shot.