ORLANDO, Fla. — A suspect was arrested late Saturday after an 83-year-old woman was killed and four other people were injured during a shootout in south Orange County Saturday afternoon, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said 29-year-old Billy Desrosiers was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. They said witnesses picked him out of a lineup.
Ruby Steplight was fatally shot after a group of people in a black car pulled up along the sidewalk on the 1700 block of 24th Street near Rio Grande Avenue around 2:50 p.m. and opened fire, deputies said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, some of the people on the sidewalk appeared to have returned fire.
Witnesses said multiple shots were fired.
Five people were shot in all, including Steplight, who died at the scene. The other four sustained injuries that were non-life-threatening, deputies said. One of the victims who survived is Steplight's 14-year-old granddaughter.
Though the investigation is still ongoing, homicide detectives believe the deadly shooting was done in retaliation for an incident that occurred earlier in the day.
Desrosiers told investigators that he intended to fatally shoot the woman and her granddaughter after an altercation with one of Steplight's relatives left his girlfriend injured, an arrest report said.
He said he later decided the girl was too young to die, the report said.
Kevin Steplight, the victim's son, said he left for 30 minutes and returned to a bullet-riddled home.
"They shot through the window and eventually they opened up the side door," he said. "I guess my mom was standing right there in the kitchen."
Deputies are working to piece together what happened, but said they are not getting a lot of cooperation from people who live in the neighborhood.
Patricia Lewis knew Ruby Steplight for 40 years. They went to church together every Sunday.
"You live all this life and then this happens to you. Oh, Lord. I just can't believe this. She's gone," said Lewis.
Lewis shared a photo of Ruby Steplight from a recent church service. She said going to church Sunday won't be the same.
"I'm trying to think about what I'm going to do not picking her up tomorrow. It will feel funny," she said.
Officials did not immediately release details regarding the other victims.
A vigil is scheduled for Monday evening.