What started as a routine Sunday afternoon stop at an Apopka gas station turned into a shooting that left one customer with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the foot and sent police searching for a suspect. Officers found the injured person at the Circle K on East Main Street and had him taken to a hospital for treatment. Detectives say they later identified a suspect after reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses.
According to WFTV, officers arrested David Valadez yesterday in connection with the shooting at the Circle K. Local coverage does not quite agree on his age. FOX 35 Orlando lists him as 20 years old, while WFTV identifies him as 18. Both outlets report that Valadez faces multiple felony counts, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, armed burglary of a conveyance, discharging a firearm in public, and petit theft.
WFTV reports that investigators recovered a firearm and that the victim, shot in the foot, was taken to a hospital. That outlet lists the Circle K’s address as 277 E. Main St. and notes Valadez as 18, a discrepancy in his age across local reports, even as the arrest and charges line up.
How investigators say they tracked the suspect
Police say detectives narrowed in on a suspect after reviewing surveillance video from inside the store and interviewing witnesses, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Investigators also recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting, WFTV reported. FOX 35 Orlando did not list bond information or upcoming court dates for Valadez.
What investigators want from the public
The Apopka Police Department is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the department. Further details and contact information are available on the agency’s website. The Apopka Police Department remains the official source for updates and tips related to the case.
