News Update for 11/27/24

An arrest has been made in the deadly shooting that happened Monday night in Avon Park. Eric Von Ferguson Jr. is facing charges of second-degree murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and destroying evidence in connection to the crime. The victim, 18-year-old Carlos Manuel Fuentes, was found by deputies, lying on the ground at a basketball court on Fred Connor Street. Fuentes was later pronounced dead at the hospital. After several witnesses submitted tips to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, it was determined that Ferguson was the perpetrator. The investigation revealed that Ferguson was a passenger in a vehicle that pulled up on the grass next to the basketball court. After Fuentes approached the driver’s side of the car and had a brief conversation, Ferguson allegedly shot him and fled. Ferguson also admitted in questioning that he had disposed of the handgun. The investigation is still underway with detectives interviewing more witnesses and trying to determine the motive behind the murder.

Some disturbing details are coming out about the Central Florida child who was found dead in a pond. The body of Deltona seven-year-old Charlie Newton was found yesterday morning. Charlie had autism and was non-verbal. During their investigation, deputies found problems in Newton’s home. They say Charlie and his two siblings were living in a home infested with roaches, they slept on a soiled mattress, and the refrigerator and bathroom were locked. DCF was called, and the sheriff’s office says Charlie’s siblings and their mother were moved into a hotel room. No charges have been announced.

President-elect Trump’s case over his alleged mishandling of classified documents has been dismissed. The move in federal appeals court Tuesday ends Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of Trump, a day after the case over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election was also dropped. The documents case centered around accusations Trump kept national defense information at his Florida home after he left office. Smith moved to have the cases dropped due to a Justice Department policy that a sitting president can’t be prosecuted.

The Florida Highway Patrol is calling Thanksgiving the most dangerous holiday on the state roads. More than four-million residents are expected to travel over the next week, which is about 100-thousand more people than last year. Lieutenant Indiana Miranda is urging drivers to practice patience, put phones down, and make sure vehicles are in working order before hitting the roads. The state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says nearly 70-percent of crashes took place during the day last Thanksgiving. A majority of the accidents were related to carelessness, aggressive driving, and speeding.

A Central Florida man is behind bars in Orange County after allegedly killing his girlfriend and stuffing her body in a suitcase. Jorge Quintero was booked Monday into the county jail for first-degree murder in the death of Carmen Carrera. The 41-year-old Quintero was found last month in Georgia, and the body of his 29-year-old girlfriend was found days later. An autopsy determined she was strangled to death with a power cord at Quintero’s apartment in Orlando.

Florida’s chief financial officer is stepping down and running for Congress. In a resignation letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Jimmy Patronis said he is resigning after serving as CFO for eight years to run for the First Congressional District Seat vacated by Matt Gaetz. President-elect Donald Trump urged Patronis to run for the seat on Monday. His resignation is effective next March 31st.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will have to pay more than eight-million dollars to a Florida family. The Hillsborough County family filed a lawsuit against the theme park after a child was injured back in September of 2022. The case accused Busch Gardens’ employees of leaving the doors of the Stanleyville Theater open, which led to the victim wandering inside and getting on a trampoline. The boy eventually fell off, resulting in several lacerations and the loss of his kidney function. A Tampa Bay jury recently awarded the victim’s family the eight-million-dollar verdict for his injuries after they declined a settlement from the park.

There won’t be a lot of elbow room at local bars as tonight marks "Drinksgiving" or "Blackout Wednesday", one of the busiest nights for bars, rivaling New Years Eve. Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alex Camacho says be smart, patrols are out in full force ahead of Thanksgiving. If you find yourself in a bind, don’t forget that Triple-A has its "Tow-to-Go" program starting tonight through Monday. A tow truck will take you and your car to a safe location within a ten-mile radius.