Residents say career criminal to blame after drive-by shooting

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Some Seminole County residents are taking action after a drive-by shooting in their usually quiet, upscale neighborhood.

"This is why everybody lives here. Because it's a neighborhood everyone moved into so they wouldn't have issues," said Chris Griffith, homeowner's association president.

Residents of the Longwood neighborhood WFTV talked to said one career criminal who lives in the community is to blame.

Residents said that for the last four years, their neighborhood has been turned upside down all because a career criminal with 29 arrests is living in his mother's house down the street.

Since Theodore Ku moved in, deputies have been called to the home nearly 30 times.

This weekend the violence escalated when deputies said Ku was targeted in a drive-by shooting.

Investigators said the house was riddled with at least five bullets. One went through the living room and another went through the front door.

Some neighbors WFTV talked to are so scared.

"People are nervous. If you drive through this neighborhood right now, I could seriously cry. Everyone's blinds are closed. All the doors are closed; nobody comes outside. It's awful," said a resident who wanted to remain anonymous.

The HOA president is so tired of the problems, he's helping Ku's mother try to evict her son. Residents even plan to raise money to help cover the court costs.

"We can't let this go on. It's just as simple as that," said Griffith.

Ku most recently was arrested for armed robbery, but with a plea deal he was let of jail after serving just 64 days.

WFTV