In the early morning hours of May 12, 2026, a young man's life was tragically cut short in Kissimmee, Florida. Timothy James Meyer, a 26-year-old male, was found with a gunshot wound to the head just before 5 a.m. outside the Extended Day Suites on West U.S. Highway 192. He had reportedly been on his way to a nearby Circle K to walk his girlfriend home from her job. First responders rushed him to a local hospital where he was initially listed in critical condition.
Despite medical efforts, Timothy Meyer succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead later that night. The incident left friends, family, and the local community in shock, seeking answers as to why a seemingly routine walk would end in such a devastating loss of life.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led Osceola County Sheriff's deputies to a suspect, 53-year-old Raul Perez. Perez was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. According to an arrest affidavit, Perez claimed that Meyer had been approaching him in an aggressive manner. In his account to the police, Perez stated that he felt threatened and, in response, pulled out a concealed firearm he was carrying and shot Meyer. After the shooting, Perez placed his weapon on the ground and was detained by law enforcement without any further incident. This version of events, however, would be scrutinized as more details about the encounter came to light.
Further investigation brought forth a conflicting narrative, supported by witness statements and video evidence. Perez's wife, who was with him at the time of the incident, told investigators she saw a tall man dressed in black walking directly towards them and "waving his hands in a suspicious, conspiratorial manner" just before her husband fired the shot. However, video footage recovered from a truck parked nearby painted a different picture. The video showed Timothy Meyer walking towards the couple, but it was then that Perez pulled out his weapon and fired a single shot, ending the young man's life. Raul Perez was arrested and initially charged with attempted murder, but following Meyer's death, the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail and held without bond. The case against Perez is currently pending in the judicial system as the community awaits further developments and the pursuit of justice for Timothy Meyer.
