An Orange County man was shot and killed Tuesday morning after trying to break up a fight following a car crash, shortly after dropping his 10-year-old daughter off for her first day of school.
Raul Lionel Vazquez, 26, faces a charge of second-degree murder in the death of 56-year-old Daryl Hill, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident took place Tuesday morning near Plymouth Sorrento and West Ponkan roads in Apopka, roughly 20 miles northwest of Orlando. Witnesses told deputies that a pickup truck collided with an SUV. Following the crash, Vazquez, who was shoeless and shirtless, exited the pickup alongside a woman and began yelling in her face, according to an arrest affidavit.
Hill, who was passing the scene on his bicycle, attempted to separate the pair. Investigators reported that Vazquez, the woman, and Hill engaged in a physical struggle that spilled into nearby bushes.
After emerging from the bushes, Hill attempted to flee on foot as Vazquez retrieved a shotgun from his truck. According to the affidavit, Hill ran with his hands raised while shouting for help before Vazquez fired a shot, striking Hill and causing him to collapse.
Emergency responders transported Hill to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
During questioning, both Vazquez and the woman alleged that Hill was the aggressor. The woman claimed Hill pushed Vazquez before she requested an attorney when pressed for details by investigators.
Deputies noted that Vazquez provided “many different accounts of the incident.” Vazquez stated he had background training in martial arts and wrestling and was “getting the better of” Hill during the fight. He admitted to firing the shotgun.
Hill’s wife, Suzanne Hill, told WESH that her husband had just dropped their youngest daughter off at school and was biking home when the shooting occurred. She grew concerned while monitoring his location on her phone.
“When his phone remained in the same position for an hour and he didn’t answer, I went home to check on him, and I saw the crime scene unit,” Suzanne Hill told the station. “I didn’t see the scene, thank God, but I saw the detectives and confirmed my worst nightmare.”
In her interview with WESH, Hill called the shooting “senseless.”
“That’s how he would want to be remembered, and for loving his family unconditionally,” she said. “He was just such an incredible man.”
In addition to his 10-year-old daughter, Hill is survived by two adult children.
Vazquez is currently held at the Orange County Jail without bond.
READ: Cuban National Driving Semi-Truck With Expired CDL Arrested In Florida ICE Crackdown
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
