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Man arrested in connection with deadly Christmas Day shooting at hookah bar near Kissimmee

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with a deadly Christmas shooting at a hookah lounge near Kissimmee, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez announced during a Thursday news conference.

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Investigators were called shortly after 4:45 a.m. Dec. 25 to the shooting at Lungo Café on Vineland Road near North Poinciana Boulevard.

Lopez said Gabriel Alberto Correa got into an argument with a worker and fired rounds at the front of the bar before driving away.

“The guy leaves and started shooting at the business,” he said. “He actually shot at the business.”

Read: Man found shot and killed Christmas morning at a café in Osceola County

Lopez said it is unknown why 911 was not immediately called, but he said it might have been due to the volume of the music being played at the lounge.

Lopez said the Correa returned to the parking lot and shot Terrell Williams once while he was standing by his car door.

Read: Osceola County deputies won’t be charged in deadly shooting outside Target near Kissimmee

He said Williams ran back to the business to seek help, but he collapsed and died.

Correa then fled the scene a second time, Lopez said.

He said detectives were able to identify Correa through surveillance video of the shooting and other evidence that was left at the scene.

See the full news conference below:

Lopez said Correa was arrested in Polk County and admitted to detectives his involvement in the shooting. He said he met with an attorney after seeing a flyer about the shooting.

Correa was booked into the Osceola County Jail on charges including murder.

Diane Batista told Channel 9 that she was one of Williams’ best friends.

“He was such a good person. He didn’t deserve to go out like that,” she said. “He took a piece of me with him.”

See a map of the scene below:

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Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

Jason Kelly joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2014. He serves as the station's Digital Executive Producer.

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