Police: Man shot after refusing shot at Ocoee bar

OCOEE, Fla. — A 39-year-old man shot another 39-year-old man in the foot Tuesday evening at a bar after the victim refused a shot of alcohol that the gunman had offered him, the Ocoee Police Department said.

Police said they were called to Frank's Place on North Clarke Road near East Silver Star Road after Lathon Jeen Yee fired six shots at close range.

Servers told Channel 9 that the suspect had frequented the bar for six months.

"I've never been so scared in my life. It turned from a few words exchanged to an array of gunfire," said a witness, who asked to not be identified. "He just had no regard for anyone or anything coming out of that building."

Surveillance footage shows the victim darting around a corner while the suspect pivots and starts firing at the bar, which was filled with patrons.

"What's really concerning is how close he was when he shot and the number of times he shot and his disregard for what his backdrop was," Ocoee police Deputy Chief Stephen McCosker said. "At one point, he actually was putting other customers in danger as well."

The unidentified witness said surviving the shooting was an unforgettable experience.

"(It was the) scariest day of my life. I'll tell you that," she said. "It's life-changing. It has completely changed my life."

Assistant manager Joshua Seyfang said he hasn't slept well since the shooting, because he keeps replaying the incident in his mind. %

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"I peek around the corner. I see a gentleman running in our direction, shooting a gun. I cover one person in my arms and duck down behind the bar," he said. "All I keep hearing is gunshots and people screaming."

Seyfang said he hopes police capture the suspect, who police said remains at large.

The victim told Channel 9 he will recover from his injuries.

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