On August 7, 2024, a fatal shooting occurred in Pierson, Florida, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Odie Carbajal of Crescent City. The incident began when Tania Lopez Morales, a 17-year-old from Pierson, contacted Carbajal on Instagram to arrange a meeting for the purchase of a quarter pound of marijuana.
At the designated meeting location, Morales and two other individuals, including her 15-year-old brother and another 15-year-old friend, approached Carbajal's vehicle. Morales and one of the 15-year-olds, later identified as Martin Martinez, pointed firearms at Carbajal with the intent to rob him instead of paying for the marijuana. During the attempted robbery, the suspects fired their weapons, striking Carbajal and an 18-year-old passenger in the leg. The third passenger in the vehicle was not injured.
Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene around 10:15 p.m. after reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Carbajal's vehicle crashed along the road, with Carbajal unresponsive in the driver’s seat. Despite attempts to perform CPR, Carbajal was pronounced dead at 10:39 p.m. due to multiple gunshot wounds.
Following the incident, Morales turned herself in and confessed to her role in the shooting. She was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. An investigation led to the arrest of a second suspect, 15-year-old Martin Martinez, who was also charged with one count of first-degree felony murder and two counts of attempted felony murder.
Detectives recovered two 9mm firearms believed to have been used in the shooting, along with several spent 9mm shell casings at the scene. Additional evidence, including data extracted from Martinez's cell phone, linked him to the homicide. Both Morales and Martinez are currently in custody, and the investigation is ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges as more evidence is gathered and reviewed.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is still determining the exact roles of the other two 15-year-olds involved in the incident and whether they will face charges. The case highlights a tragic outcome of an attempted robbery that escalated into a fatal shooting.
