A Florida father was shot and killed Tuesday morning while attempting to de-escalate a dispute between a couple near Plymouth Sorrento and West Ponkan roads. Daryl Hill, 56, was on his way home from dropping his daughter off for her first day of school when he encountered the scene.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Hill stopped his bicycle to intervene in a heated argument between a man and a woman. Witnesses reported seeing a pickup truck crash into an SUV around 8:30 a.m. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Raul Lionel Vazquez, was reportedly arguing with an unidentified woman after exiting his truck.
An arrest affidavit states that Hill, seeing Vazquez yelling at the woman, dismounted his bike and tried to separate the pair. The confrontation allegedly turned physical, with all three individuals falling into nearby bushes. After they got up, Hill began to run away with his hands raised, shouting for help, when Vazquez retrieved a shotgun from his truck and fired, striking Hill. Hill was pronounced dead at the hospital.
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Vazquez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. During interviews, the woman involved claimed Hill was the aggressor and had pushed Vazquez. Vazquez also asserted that Hill attacked him first, but deputies noted inconsistencies in his accounts. Vazquez reportedly told deputies that his martial arts and wrestling training gave him an advantage before admitting to firing the shotgun.
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Hill's wife of 17 years, Suzanne Hill, stated that she was tracking her husband's location via his phone when he did not respond for an extended period. She later confirmed her worst fears upon arriving home to find law enforcement at the scene.
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Suzanne Hill described her husband as a kind-hearted individual who would protect others, especially his family, with his life. She referred to him as a hero for his actions on Tuesday morning.
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