What was supposed to be a routine handoff to return some property turned into a deadly encounter on an Orlando street Wednesday night. Police say 33-year-old Daryl Willis Jr. was shot shortly before 7 p.m. on May 20 and later died at a hospital. The man accused of pulling the trigger, 41-year-old Joseph Petrus, is now in custody and facing a first-degree murder charge.
What police say
Orlando Police Department officers were called to the intersection of Harbour Road and Chesapeake Avenue just before 7 p.m. on May 20 and found a vehicle that had crashed into a tree with a man inside suffering from a gunshot wound, according to FOX 35 Orlando. That man was identified as 33-year-old Daryl Willis Jr., and he was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Detectives say Willis had gone to the 5000 block of Chesapeake Avenue to return property that was allegedly stolen the night before. At some point during that meetup, police say, the situation turned violent.
Where it happened
The shooting unfolded near Stone Harbour Road and Chesapeake Avenue, not far from Rosemont Elementary School, as WFTV reported. Officers kept the area blocked off for hours while investigators combed through evidence and interviewed neighbors.
The presence of crime scene tape and patrol cars so close to a school and residential yards added an extra layer of unease for families in the neighborhood, who watched the investigation stretch into the night.
Arrest and charges
Police say 41-year-old Joseph Petrus left the scene after the shooting and was later taken into custody. He is now charged with first-degree murder, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Investigators allege Petrus shot Willis as Willis was leaving after agreeing to return the property, then drove off before officers located and arrested him.
The Orlando Police Department has not released a possible motive or additional details about what led up to the gunfire, and detectives are still working the case.
Legal implications
With a first-degree murder charge, Petrus faces the penalties tied to a capital felony under Florida law. Those penalties can include life in prison or the death penalty, as outlined in Florida Statutes § 782.04. Authorities say the investigation remains active and have not indicated when further information might be released.
