ORLANDO, Fla. — Loved ones of a 19-year-old shot multiple times at a popular Orlando shopping plaza say the teen has a long recovery ahead.
For days, Channel 9 has been asking questions about the shooting at Colonial Plaza, located on East Colonial Drive and Bumby Avenue.
On Thursday, Orlando police announced they arrested 17-year-old Justin Herrera for the shooting.
Herrera appeared before a judge at the Juvenile Justice Center in Orlando on Friday, on charges of Attempted First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor.
The family identified the victim as 19-year-old Nicholas Alves.
According to Alves’ girlfriend, who asked not to be identified, Alves was shot three times in both his hands and his right bicep.
She told Channel 9 that Alves is awake and still recovering in the hospital. But the road ahead will include extensive occupational therapy and lots of hospital bills.
“He needs 24/7 care and it’s just a long road of recovery,” said Alves girlfriend.
She told Channel 9 that she hasn’t left Alves’ hospital bed since the shooting on Saturday.
Alves was working a sales job at Colonial Plaza when Orlando Police said Herrera ran up to him, yelling with a firearm.
Police say Herrera tried to punch Alves, who tried to defend himself before he was shot.
“We don’t know really what was going on through that kid’s mind. We know what was going through my boyfriend’s, and he was just trying to do his job,” Alves’ girlfriend said.
According to Alves’ girlfriend, Alves and Herrera had never met before. She doesn’t know why Alves was attacked, but after opening fire, Orlando Police said Herrera ran off, leaving Alves bleeding at the scene.
Herrera was arrested five days later and police eventually recovered the firearm and other evidence believed to be used in the shooting.
During a court appearance on Friday, a judge found there was probable cause to hold Herrera in detention until his next hearing on October 1st at 8:30 am.
With Herrera in custody, Alves’ girlfriend said the family does feel some relief. They are now laser-focused on his long recovery ahead.
“Some people turn to anger when some of these things happen in their lives, but not him. And that’s what I’m very grateful to say about him. That with all of this going on, he just has a smile on his face and knows that it could have been worse,” said Alves’ girlfriend.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to cover Alves’ high medical costs.
That GoFundMe is linked here.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
