Lack of answers following drive-by leaves Horizon West family frustrated

One bullet was lodged in her home’s front door. Another went through the couch in the living room and her fridge.

While one Horizon West resident and her family slept during the early morning hours of Friday, June 8, bullets flew through their home in the Addison at Windermere apartment complex.

“We were sleeping,” said the resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “And luckily, I was sleeping on the couch and my daughter wanted me to come into bed with her, so I went to sleep with her. But what scares me is, if they would have shot her window, she would have been dead, because her head is parallel to the window.”

The shooting, which occurred at about 1:30 a.m., shattered the family’s sense of safety. 

The family now is contemplating moving out of state. The couple’s kids have been sent away temporarily for their own safety.

“I think I know who it is, but the police said they can’t just go question them without evidence,” the resident said. “So the police are no help. You suggest who you think it could be, because it has to be somebody you know. Like one of the detectives said today — nobody goes and shoots up a house, especially one that’s all the way at the end, without a motive.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and using surveillance video to identify the vehicle. However, other cars obscured full view of the suspect vehicle in the footage.

“(The video) only caught a little bit of the car, because there were cars parked in front of where they shot, so it’s not easy to make out a description,” said the mother of two.

OCSO is also working on gathering fingerprints from the bullets found in the home.

“Every time we found a bullet that day, I had to call the police so they could come in with gloves on and take it into evidence to find fingerprints,” the mother said. “But they said it might take weeks to months. And I’m like, ‘Are you serious?’”

The family is frustrated by the lack of answers and does not plan to take any more chances waiting. 

“My daughters could have died,” the mother said. “That’s my biggest concern.”