A Sunday afternoon pickup game at Shadow Bay Park turned into a crime scene when, according to deputies, a 38-year-old man shot another man in the stomach during an argument at a crowded basketball court. Witnesses say players and parents bolted in all directions as chaos erupted and bystanders pulled out their phones to record what happened next.
What deputies say
Orange County deputies were called to 5100 Turkey Lake Road around 2:47 p.m. and found the victim on the ground near the basketball courts. According to a witness, the suspect walked to a silver car, grabbed a small black bag, came back to the benches, then pulled out a black pistol and fired. Roughly 20 bystanders were “yelling, screaming, and videotaping the crime scene,” deputies said in a release, according to ClickOrlando.
Shadow Bay's recent incidents
This shooting is the latest violent episode at the Metrowest park. Deputies investigated an unrelated stabbing at Shadow Bay Park in June 2024 that left a man hospitalized. As reported by WFTV, the earlier attack sparked questions about safety on and around the park's trails and courts.
Arrest and charges
Deputies arrested 38-year-old Byron Dante Southward without incident and booked him into the Orange County Jail. He faces a charge of aggravated battery with a firearm, according to ClickOrlando.
Legal context
Under Florida law, aggravated battery, defined as battery that causes great bodily harm or is committed with a deadly weapon, is a second-degree felony. The statutes (F.S. 784.045 and the reclassification provisions in F.S. 775.087) provide for enhanced penalties when a firearm is carried or used during the commission of a felony, which can increase mandatory minimums and overall prison exposure, per the Florida Senate and Florida statutes.
What's next
Investigators have not released additional details about the victim's condition or a possible motive. Court filings and jail records will show the next steps as the case moves through the system.
