Two men have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old woman in Orange County.
On Wednesday, September 24, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced that two suspects, Jonathan Martinez and Joshua Benitez Rodriguez, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of Karimar Nicole Rios.
Back on Tuesday, September 9, shortly after 2 a.m., OCSO deputies responded to the intersection of Sand Lake Road and Lillwill Avenue in Orlando in reference to a vehicle crash, according to the sheriff’s office.
Upon arrival, the deputies discovered that a woman, Rios, had been shot inside the vehicle. She was transported to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
No further details were provided by OCSO regarding the deadly shooting.
Following their arrests, Martinez and Benitez Rodriguez were booked into Orange County Jail, where they remain in custody. They are both facing the following charges: second-degree murder with a firearm and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
“Karimar Nicole Rios’ life was tragically taken far too soon,” said OCSO in a social media post on Thursday, September 25. The sheriff’s office continued by stating, “Our thoughts are with the Rios family during this difficult time.”
A GoFundMe campaign is underway to help support Rios’ family. As of September 25, over 135 donations have been received, totaling nearly $13,500.