ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Nearly a week after a 19-year-old was shot and killed, her loved ones are calling for “justice” and asking for the community’s help in laying her to rest.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office identified Shoumana Abelanda Toutoute, 19, as the victim of the October 1st shooting at the Lorenzo at East Mil apartment on Lake Heritage Circle.
On Monday, Channel 9 spoke exclusively with Shoumana Toutoute’s mother, Yfonise Innocent, via a friend who translated from English to Creole.
Innocent told Channel 9 the whole family was sleeping inside the apartment when they were woken up by a barrage of gunfire around 12:55 am Thursday.
Innocent took Channel 9 through the shot-up apartment and pointed out several places where bullets ripped through the home.
Beyond the broken windows, Toutoute’s bedroom sits mostly unchanged.
A pair of stethoscopes still hang on the wall, serving as a brutal reminder of a dream that will never be realized.
Toutoute’s family says the 19-year-old graduated from Oak Ridge High School, was attending Valencia College to pursue a nursing degree, and was working for Amazon.
Now, the family says they are living a nightmare.
Through tears Innocent repeatedly called for “justice” for her daughter.
The family says they watched as Toutoute said her last words and cried out for her mother after the shooting on Thursday morning.
Investigators say the shooting happened around 12:55 am.
According to the family, Toutoute managed to get out of her bedroom before collapsing in the family’s living room.
“She called her mom, you know, that’s the last words,” said Oliver Mike Myrtil, a family friend who was staying with the family for vacation when the apartment was shot up.
According to deputies, “there is no indication from anything they have learned so far that would lead investigators to believe anyone in that home would have been targeted for violence.”
“We don’t have problem with anyone outside. That’s why we would like to know what happened. What we’d like to learn is answers about the incident,” said Myrtil.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said detectives could use the public’s help in this case.
They have not announced any arrests, but detectives say they are following leads and released a photo showing individuals seen in the area at the time of the shooting. A reward of up to $ 5,000 is being offered to help identify the individuals.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about this crime, or anyone who witnessed the moments leading up to or following the shooting, to call the OCSO non- emergency line at 407-836-4357 or Crimeline at 800-423-8477.
In the meantime, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Toutoute’s unexpected funeral costs.
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