A Florida father of three was fatally shot on Tuesday morning after he attempted to de-escalate a fight between a couple on the roadside, authorities said. Daryl Alexander Hill, 56, was killed around 8:30 a.m. in Apopka, Florida, shortly after dropping his 10-year-old daughter off for her first day of school at Wolf Lake Elementary.
According to an arrest affidavit, the incident began when Raul Vazquez, 26, and a woman were fighting in their pickup truck, which subsequently crashed into a black SUV. The altercation then spilled out of the vehicle and onto the road. Hill, who was riding his motorcycle nearby, reportedly stopped to intervene.
Witnesses stated that Hill and the couple struggled and fell into bushes before Hill attempted to retreat. Vazquez then allegedly retrieved a gun from his car and shot Hill in the back, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Hill was pronounced dead at a local hospital less than an hour after the shooting.
Investigators described Hill as a "Good Samaritan" for his actions. His wife, Suzanne Hill, reported that she was tracking her husband's location via cell phone when the lack of movement raised her concern. She later confirmed her worst fears upon arriving home and seeing law enforcement at her residence.
Friends and family remembered Hill as a kind, giving, and caring individual who frequently helped others. Maria Vasquez, the superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, called Hill a "ray of sunshine to his family and those around him." The school community also noted his active involvement and willingness to assist with requests.
Vazquez has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He is being held in the Orange County jail. Jail records indicate Vazquez has prior arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.