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‘You wish it was just a dream’: Aunt of slain Marion County girl, 17, describes her family’s anguish

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A Marion County family is heartbroken after a 17-year-old girl was discovered fatally shot.

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Investigators said Sofia Lugo was discovered with a gunshot wound shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday at a home on Northwest 111th Court near State Road 40.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Read: Deputies: Boyfriend is a person of interest in suspicious death of Marion County girl

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is now searching for Lugo’s boyfriend, 21-year-old Saul Garcia Macias, whom they consider a person of interest.

Margarita Aguirre, Lugo’s aunt, said her family is devastated and desperate for answers as to why she was killed.

Read: Video released after shooting near a nightclub in Marion County

“She was young; she was beautiful -- an extraordinary person,” she said. “It feels like your whole world is falling apart, and you wish it was just a dream.”

Aguirre said her family was unaware of any issues between the couple.

Read: Marion County Sheriff identifies deputy, second man injured in shooting outside local nightclub

Anyone with information about Macias’ whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office.

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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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