ORLANDO, Fla. — A 15-year-old Boone High School student was gunned down Tuesday while walking to school, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of his killer.
Family, friends and classmates gathered at a makeshift memorial for Alejandro Vargas Martinez, placing candles, flowers and balloons around a fence near the crime scene.
Vargas Martinez was shot to death while walking to school at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday near Waldo Street and East Kaley Street, about a half-mile from the school, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said.
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Bianca Nash, Vargas Martinez's friend, said she regularly walked home from school with him.
"Everyone was just heartbroken. There were so many people crying," she said. "He didn't get in any trouble. He would just go home and work and do school."
Brianna Armstrong, 15, dropped off balloons and stuffed animals with her mother, Andrea Armstrong, Tuesday
"I couldn't imagine losing my own child in such a tragic way," Andrea Armstrong said.
This is a vehicle of interest in the 12/18 murder of Alejandro Vargas Martinez. Please take a careful look at this four-door sedan and if you have any information, call @CrimelineFL at 800-423-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/HTjgtfBzgo
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) December 19, 2018
"I'm still processing the fact that he won't be there tomorrow. He won't be there when we come back from Christmas break. He won't be here for his birthday," Corral said. "He won't be here ever again on this Earth. But I just know he's gone, but he'll never be forgotten."
The Sheriff's Office on Wednesday afternoon released video of a four-door sedan it described as a vehicle of interest in connection with Vargas Martinez's shooting death.
Resident Teri McBryde said the video was recorded by her doorbell camera.
"(The vehicle) seemed out of the ordinary (and was seen at) approximately the same time I knew that the incident had happened," she said. "I hope it helps in the overall puzzle that they're putting together to try to catch someone."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crimeline at 407-423-8477.
More than $14,000 has been raised to pay for his funeral, which is scheduled for Sunday.
Yesterday, the @ocpsboone community was struck by tragedy. Alejandro Vargas, 15, was shot and killed on his walk to school. The school, in partnership with @Fdn4OCPS, has set up a fund to help his family: https://t.co/7fOpK0voJ6 pic.twitter.com/9aasrP1lyh
— OCPS News (@OCPSnews) December 19, 2018
On December 18, 2018, at 0641 am the OCSO patrol units responded to a 911 call to a man down in the roadway on Waldo Street . The 15 year old victim, Alejandro Vargas, was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Crimeline $10,000 reward! @CrimelineFL pic.twitter.com/DePr6bCzfy
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) December 19, 2018
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