WINDERMERE, Fla. — Police in Windermere are investigating after they said a man killed two people with a baseball bat after being confronted for attempting to steal a truck.
Officials were dispatched out to the 2900 block of Sunbittern Court around 11 p.m. Thursday evening after a 10-year-old called 911 to report his home was being burglarized. The boy was instructed to hide in a closet until police arrived.
Investigators and hostage negotiators later arrived on scene to find Ezekiel Hopkins, 34, of Orlando, unconscious inside a bathroom in the home and took him into custody. They said he may have consumed bleach.
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Further investigation revealed Hopkins attempted to steal a truck from the home where he was confronted by the couple who’ve owned the home since 1999, John and Lisa Savey.
Officials said Hopkins attacked and killed John Savey outside the home with a baseball bat. Hopkins then attacked Lisa Savey inside the home after she attempted to retreat, according to police. Lisa Savey survived the attack and sustained serious injuries.
The couple’s 30-year-old son, James Savey, was also attacked with a baseball bat inside the home. Officials said he died on scene.
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The pastor of Family Church, where the Savey family were active members, said the congregation was shocked by the news they received about the family Friday morning. Lead pastor Chuck Carter said he is waiting for doctors to allow visitation for Lisa Savey. He said he and some other congregation members will be here immediately to offer support.
“This was a couple that was here every time the doors were open,” Carter said. “They actually taught some classes for us. Those classes were popular people enjoyed those. They always had a smile on their face.”
Carter said he knew the boy who called 911 from the home. He said the church will be there for him as he copes with this trauma.
Officials said prior to the boy calling 911, members of the Ocoee Police Department observed a suspicious vehicle on Ocoee Apopka Road behind a construction area. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed down McGuire Rd. and was not pursued pursuant to policy, according to police.
The vehicle then drove over a berm off Park Avenue before crashing into a tree next to the home where the double homicide occurred, according to police.
Hopkins faces two counts of murder and one count of aggravated battery. He was taken to a hospital after his arrest because police said he may have drank bleach at some point.
You can watch a press conference from the scene below:
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Cox Media Group
