WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Winter Garden police are investigating a homicide that they say happened late Wednesday night during a card game.
Officers responded to a home on Bethune Avenue around 11:25 p.m. Wednesday and found 49-year-old Shariff Simmons shot to death outside the home.
Police said Simmons died from multiple gunshot wounds but did not specify how many shots were fired.
Investigators said the shooting does not appear to have been random and believe there is no threat to the public.
“Based on the investigation and the facts of the case that we have this far, this does appear to be targeted towards the victim. And thus there is no believed fear to the greater community,” Winter Garden police Capt. Mike Mason said.
Investigators allege Simmons and others were inside the home playing cards shortly before the shooting.
“They got to stop these damn card games, these card games. I’m serious. They gotta stop,” Nikita Walton, who is familiar with the neighborhood, said.
Walton said card game gatherings are common in the area.
“Yep, like a birthday party to them,” Walton said.
Officers and investigators processed the scene for more than 12 hours.
“Obviously something happens in the middle of the night. We want to canvas the area again first thing in the morning when the sun comes up just for see if we missed anything last night. So it’s about being thorough,” Mason said.
Walton said violence like this has been happening in the area for years.
“That’s messed up. That’s somebody’s child, come on now. That’s someone’s dad, that’s somebody husband,” Walton said.
No one is in custody. Police said they are looking for someone in connection with the case but are not ready to release additional information.
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