News Update for 8/27/24

Closing statements were heard in the Virgil Lee West murder and attempted murder trial yesterday morning. West is charged with the murder of his former friend Shawn Zeigler and attempted first degree murder of Carrie Leaphart, tampering with evidence, and shooting into a conveyance. Jurors were read their instructions by presiding Judge Peter Estrada and were sent into deliberations after 2:00pm Monday afternoon. West maintains that the murder was in self defense even though both victims were unarmed when the incident occurred on July 14th, 2015.

A student is hurt after a stabbing at a school in Brevard County. It happened yesterday afternoon at Palm Bay High School in Melbourne. Melbourne Police say one student stabbed another in the stomach with scissors. Another student was cut on the hand. Both were taken to the hospital and are in stable condition. The suspect was taken into police custody.

A central Florida man is guilty of murder. State Attorney Andrew Bain announced yesterday that Safari Rodriguez was convicted of first-degree murder for a shooting two years ago in Kissimmee. The 21-year-old shot and killed Alejandro Guzman as Guzman was in a car outside a home. When Rodriguez’ cousin came out of the home to confront Rodriguez he shot her, too, but she survived. Rodriguez was also convicted of attempted murder. Rodriguez could get life in prison. No sentencing date has been set.

The city of Orlando has big plans for growth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced yesterday it wants to help the city annex over 50-thousand acres of ranchland in Orange County. The church owns the East Orlando Deseret Ranch Planning Area through its subsidiaries, Farmland Reserve and Deseret Ranches. Farmland Reserve President Doug Rose says putting the property under a single municipal government will avoid the piecemeal planning of the past. The Orlando Sentinel reports if the annexation is approved, Orlando’s footprint would grow by almost 60 percent. There’s no word on what would go on the land.

The City of Avon Park is closing Memorial Drive between Hal McRae Boulevard and E. Ben Hicks Street to all traffic, Thursday, August 29th, for continued work on the gravity sewer main. For more information please call 863-249-0018.

Governor Ron DeSantis is congratulating a historic baseball team from Seminole County. Lake Mary won the Little League World Series Sunday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. DeSantis congratulated the team on X yesterday. They’re the first team from Florida to ever win the title. The team landed at Orlando International Airport yesterday and got a water cannon salute. They then went to the Lake Mary Sports Complex where about a hundred people were waiting to celebrate with them. More celebrations are in the works. The school board plans to honor the team, and a parade is set for Saturday. Manager Jonathan Anderson tells Channel 9 we’ll never forget this.

Athletes from nearly two dozen counties are expected to gather in Central Florida later this week. The Orlando International Karate Open is set to begin on Friday at Dezerland Park with a training seminar. The actual tournament will kick off on Saturday. Tickets for the competition start at 10 dollars. There are events scheduled through Sunday.

A historic SpaceX mission is being delayed. The company announced yesterday it’s postponing the launch of the Polaris Dawn mission. It was set to blast off this morning from the Kennedy Space Center, but SpaceX says a ground-side helium leak was found. The launch is now set for tomorrow morning when a four-hour launch window opens at 3:38 a.m. If everything goes as planned, the Polaris Dawn crew will take part in the first-ever private spacewalk.

Florida law enforcement is taking part in a DUI prevention campaign taking place across the Southeast United States. The 33rd annual “Hands Across the Border” initiative kicked yesterday and will run up to Labor Day. State police will partner with agencies in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee to conduct sobriety road checks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the Labor Day weekend is one of the deadliest and busiest times on the road. Nearly 40-percent of deadly crashes in 2022 involved drunk drivers.