Hughley shooting: Dark and disturbing, yet miraculous

The Dexter Hughley shooting: Part One

Dexter Hughley

The Orange County Clerk of the Court released Arrest Warrant documents for Demarquis Prince, the alleged shooter of Dexter Hughley, and the probable cause narrative within the warrant reveals a dark, disturbing, yet ultimately miraculous case.

On November 2nd, Hughley was shot three times. Prince's motive appears to be money, jewelry, and other belongings in his apartment.

Hughley laid on the floor of his apartment bleeding profusely with three bullets in his body. He was almost discovered by a neighbor four hours later, but instead it was officers from the Apopka Police Department that discovered him later that evening. The Apopka Fire Department rushed him to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, where Hughley was listed in critical condition for several days before gaining stable condition status.

Here is a partial account of the events according to the arrest warrant documents...

4:02PM: Hughley Shot

During a canvass of the surrounding neighbors, an officer spoke with another resident of the complex. The resident said that at approximately 4:02PM, he heard two possible guns shots and about one minute later heard a third gun shot. The witness advised that he did not hear any disturbance going on during that time.

This is what the witness heard...

Hughley told detectives that on the day of the shooting, he arrived home from work and while he was getting undressed, he was confronted by Prince. Hughley said he had been standing in his hallway (between the bedroom and living room) when he looked directly into Prince's face and Prince shot him two times rapidly.

Hughley told detectives that Prince shot him one more time while he was laying on the floor. Hughley said that the third shot did not immediately follow the first two shots, because Prince was in the apartment 'taking stuff'. According to Hughley, he did not have time to defend himself or react to the shots.

8:30PM: Neighbor almost discovers Hughley

According to the affidavit, a neighbor informed officers that when she returned home at approximately 8:30PM, she discovered Hughley's door partially open. The neighbor believed this to be strange, so she called into the residence and got no response. The neighbor subsequently closed the door to Hughley's residence and went into her apartment unit.

9:58PM: The 911 call

At 9:58PM, Apopka Dispatch received a 911 call in reference to a fire in the woods near the address of 505 South Washington Street in Apopka. Apopka Fire and Police were dispatched to the scene and located an abandoned silver Chevrolet Camaro partially in flames. The vehicle had been abandoned in a vacant wooded area near Alonzo Williams Park in Apopka. AFD subsequently extinguished the fire.

The vehicle's license plate was burned but still readable. Apopka Dispatch ran the tag and determined that Hughley was the owner. Officers on the scene knew that Hughley worked at the Main Street Wendy's Restaurant in Apopka and decided to go there in an attempt to verify his whereabouts.

Apopka Police finds Hughley

Officers arrived at the Wendy's only to discover that he had already left work earlier in the day. They spoke with the night manager, who informed them that Hughley currently resided at the Orange North Apartments.

Upon arriving at Hughley's residence, and hearing the information from the neighbor about Hughley's door being open, and the fact that his car had been lit on fire, officers felt that the he may be in danger or distress. They discovered that the door to Hughley's residence was unlocked, and they opened the door and called inside, but got no response. Upon entering into the residence, they observed Hughley laying on the floor, bleeding profusely. Apopka EMS was called to the scene, and transported Hughley to ORMC.

Tomorrow - The Dexter Hughley shooting: Part Two