A woman in her 50s died after a shooting on South Central Avenue, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
APOPKA, Fla. — Detectives with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a Memorial Day shooting that left a woman in her 50s dead Monday evening in an Apopka neighborhood. Deputies said the shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Central Avenue.
Authorities said the woman was taken to a hospital after the shooting but later died from her injuries. Investigators had not publicly identified the victim by Monday night, and no arrests had been announced. The shooting drew a large law enforcement response to the residential area as deputies worked to secure the scene, speak with witnesses and search for evidence connected to the killing.
Crime scene tape blocked part of South Central Avenue for several hours while investigators examined the area. Patrol vehicles lined nearby streets as deputies moved between homes and parked cars collecting information from residents. Several neighbors gathered outside as investigators worked into the evening. Some residents said they heard multiple loud pops shortly before emergency crews arrived. Others described seeing paramedics rushing a woman into an ambulance while deputies ordered people to stay back from the scene.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released few details in the hours after the shooting. Investigators did not say whether the woman knew the shooter or if deputies were searching for a suspect. Officials also did not disclose how many shots were fired or whether a firearm had been recovered. By late Monday, deputies said detectives were still working to determine what led to the violence.
Apopka, located northwest of Orlando, has experienced several high-profile violent crime investigations in recent years, though officials have said overall crime trends in Orange County have fluctuated depending on the area and type of offense. Memorial Day gatherings often increase activity in neighborhoods across Central Florida, with parks, homes and community spaces hosting cookouts and holiday events throughout the day. Residents in the South Central Avenue area described the neighborhood as generally quiet and said the large police response came as a shock.
Investigators remained at the scene Monday night as detectives continued interviewing witnesses and processing evidence. The sheriff’s office said additional details would be released as the investigation develops. It was not immediately clear whether surveillance footage from nearby homes or businesses could play a role in identifying a suspect or reconstructing the events leading up to the shooting. Detectives are expected to continue canvassing the neighborhood for information in the coming days.
Neighbors stood outside in small groups as flashing patrol lights illuminated the street after sunset. Some residents quietly spoke with deputies while others watched investigators move through the area carrying evidence markers and cameras. One nearby resident said the heavy police presence unsettled many people living on the block because violent incidents are uncommon there. Another resident said several families had been outside earlier in the afternoon enjoying the holiday before the scene turned chaotic.
As of Monday night, the victim’s identity had not been released and no suspect information had been announced. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active as detectives work to determine what happened and whether criminal charges will be filed.
Author note: Last updated May 26, 2026.