Orange County Sheriff's background statement

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We just received from the Orange County Sheriff's Office this background statement on the Apopka incident Brandon Meriweather of the Patriots was present at. Case2011-17499Background:The Orange County Sheriffs Office is investigating the circumstances of a reported shooting which occurred during the early morning hours on February 28th, 2011, resulting in serious facialhead injuries to Quentin Taylor (24yoa), when he suffered a gunshot to the face and Nico Stanley (23yoa), who was grazed by a fired round.The Sheriffs Office responded to the reported scene, but no activity, suspects or scene could be established or located with any certainty at the time of the calls. Shortly thereafter, the Apopka Police Department was advised and responded to a call of two shooting victims at Florida Hospital Apopka, launching our criminal investigation.While I cannot divulge all of the investigative details, I can advise that the OCSO detectives responded to the hospital and were unable to obtain any identifying information from the victims; one of which was heavily sedated, due to his injuries. Investigators have been following up on the limited information that has been received since the date of the shooting and were only able to obtain both victims statements, one on Monday and the other yesterday, Wednesday, March 9, 2011 as to the circumstances that led to the shooting and who was present. Based on this information and investigative follow-up obtained yesterday we can state, based on the confidence of those victim statements, that William Brandon Meriweather, among others, has been identified as being present during the shooting, which resulted in injuries to the two victims and occurred in the area of 17th St. and Marvin C. Sanders, during the early morning hours of February 28th, 2011.We are not prepared at this time to characterize or disclose Mr. Meriweathers status in this case, though we do seek to interview him. This past Wednesday investigators received a call from an attorney identifying himself as representing Mr. Meriweather, who stated he was looking to facilitate an interview with his client. We are receptive to this overture (opportunity) and detectives are seeking to further this interview if it can be arranged.We do want to reach out to anyone who may have witness information in this case to contact our office and offer a statement. I would also caution that investigators are following up on any reports of anyone assisting the shooter in this case or is aware of the location of any evidence or firearm. I do want to add that as late as this afternoon, detectives have been able to locate a crime scene and have requested the assistance of the Orange County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Unit to gather any evidence that can be located. This case is ongoing and active as we close this afternoon. Once we have any significant developments, we will advise accordingly. I will take a few questions, but will not offer any speculation. Thank you.

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