Shootings highlight troubled Seminole County business area

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — One Seminole County street corner has been under the watchful eye of law enforcement for years. Even the gated communities down the street regularly pay for extra deputy patrols.

Now, a shooting outside America's Best Inn and Suites on Wymore Road is bringing more attention to the intersection near State Road 436 and Interstate 4.

Late Wednesday night guests at motel were startled by the sound of gunfire. A man and woman were shot in the motel's parking lot.

"I heard bad stories about this place before even coming here," said motel guest Esdras Jean.

Channel 9's Tim Barber checked into the background of the motel and calls for service at nine other businesses near the motel.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said they have responded to the area hundreds of times.  

"It makes me real nervous not knowing what's going on around here," said Jean.

Both victims from last night's shooting are expected to survive. Police and deputies are still searching for the shooter.

The motel is a short distance from the upscale Spring Valley neighborhood nearby.

Lucinda Moore has lived and worked in the neighborhood as a realtor for more than 15 years. She said she heard about the shooting right after it happened.

"We are going 'Wow, that is very nearby.'  It was very surprising," Moore said.

She and several other people in the neighborhood who spoke to Channel 9's Tim Barber said they aren't too concerned.

They said Seminole County sheriff's deputies do a good job of patrolling their neighborhood and there are security cameras in the neighborhood. They pay extra for the cameras and for extra security patrols.

"The county sheriff's department is always here. You never know who they are or where they are.  They are always marked or unmarked," said Moore.

Investigators said they don't know what motivated Wednesday night's shooting. Neither of the shooting victims suffered life-threatening injuries, according to investigators.

They said that while they do have a high number of calls for service in the area, very few are for violent crimes.

Altamonte Springs police also spend a great deal of time in the area which borders their city.

WFTV