APOPKA, Fla. (AP) - A suspect fired several shots from a handgun after fighting erupted among teenagers at a birthday party at a central Florida home, leaving nine people wounded, authorities said Sunday.
After the shooting, a suspect left the house party where some 30 teenagers had gathered near Apopka, authorities said, adding a gray SUV carrying that person was stopped afterward and the person was undergoing questioning.
Orange County Sheriff's Cpl. Susan Soto, speaking with The Associated Press, said she had no further information on the person and whether charges were expected. She added of the suspect: "He was identified by other witnesses and it is believed he was the only shooter."
Soto said authorities were called minutes before 11 p.m. Saturday to the home and found six people with gunshot wounds who had to be taken to hospitals. She said three others went on their own to seek medical treatment for injuries.
It wasn't clear if all the wounded had gunshot wounds and Soto said an investigation was seeking to determine exactly what had happened. "There was an argument and it's believed that one of the people in the party drew a handgun and fired multiple shots" inside the home, said Soto, reading from a statement.
She said two of the wounded required surgery and one of them, a female, had potentially life-threatening injuries. She declined to identify the victims by name or elaborate on their conditions.
Orange County Sheriff's Capt. Denise Demps-Rollins had told the Orlando Sentinel earlier that several teens were in the SUV stopped by authorities near a gas station after the shooting. She also said a handgun had been seized by authorities.
Soto said those at the party were between 15 and 19 years of age.