Ocoee caregiver arrested for attempted murder

A 22-year-old man was arrested Saturday, Jan. 3 in Ocoee for attempted first-degree murder. 

Approximately at 9:07 p.m., officers from the Ocoee Police Department responded to 2291 Laurel Blossom Circle, Ocoee, in reference to a shooting. 

According to the arrest affidavit, Journey Mikah Powell, a caregiver at a group home for patients with autism at 2291 Laurel Blossom Circle, Ocoee, was visited by Ki’merse Abiyana Akins, his ex-girlfriend. 

Akins told police she went to the group home to talk over a breakup, but when she got there, Powell grabbed her and choked her. Once he let her go, she spray-painted his car and went back to her vehicle, in which her friend, La’teria Fitzgerald, accompanied her in the passenger seat. 

The affidavit stated Akins locked her doors and attempted to pull off, however, her friend unlocked the doors thinking Powell just wanted to have a conversation as he knocked on the car window. 

Powell then was said to have jumped into the vehicle and repeatedly hit Akins in the face. Fitzgerald was able to get him off Akins, which is when he exited the vehicle and grabbed a gun from his car. 

He shot at Akins' car as she drove off and Fitzgerald’s back was hit. 

When officers arrived at the scene, Powell was locked inside the group home with six patients. 

The arrest affidavit said Powell resisted officers and refused to listen to commands. Once he was placed in handcuffs, he made his body stiff and refused to walk. 

Powell is currently facing four charges: shooting into an occupied vehicle, criminal mischief, resisting officers without violence and attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon. 

He admitted to everything, the affidavit read. 

No patients were harmed and Fitzgerald was transported to Orlando Health Regional Medical Center for treatment.