On the evening of Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, the life of 35-year-old Edwin Collazo, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short in Orlando, Florida. The night's calm was shattered shortly after 10:30 p.m. by the sound of gunfire in the 1000 block of Bethune Drive in the Washington Shores neighborhood. When Orlando Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Collazo suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting began immediately, with detectives and crime scene investigators working through the night and into the next day. The area was cordoned off with crime scene tape as authorities canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses and evidence. A nearby home became the focus of the investigation, where a stroller and a child's bicycle were seen outside, painting a somber picture of the life disrupted by the violence. Investigators were seen photographing the home, searching a car in the driveway, and eventually towing another vehicle away. Neighbors reported being surprised by the deadly turn of events in their community.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect. Police identified 43-year-old Dancing Days Pacheco Santana as the individual who had allegedly been in an argument with Collazo that evening. The verbal altercation reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation, which culminated in Pacheco Santana allegedly shooting Collazo and fleeing the scene. Just two days later, on Tuesday, April 7, authorities located and apprehended Pacheco Santana. He was initially taken into custody on unrelated charges.
Following his arrest, Dancing Days Pacheco Santana was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Edwin Collazo. He also faced a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Orlando Police Department confirmed the arrest and the charges, stating that the investigation remained active and ongoing. While an arrest has been made, the case continues to move through the legal system, leaving a family and a community to mourn the loss of a man described by friends as fun and well-liked, and a father to four young children.
