The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has release more information about a house fire and shooting where they found a dead body early Monday morning in the Remington community, calling the shooting portion “possibly a drive-by.”
The body of Elijah Marcus Smith, 41, was found among the burned debris of a home at 246 Strathmore Circle, after the fire and a report of shots fired came in on multiple 911 calls around 4:25 a.m.
Deputies arrived minutes later where they confirmed the home was fully engulfed and began looking for possible victims, locating a victim outside who sustained injuries from the shooting. At 4:43 a.m., as deputies continued to respond and investigate the incident, a person began shooting in the direction of Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department personnel. The ambush-style shooting appeared to be coming from inside the house that consumed by fire. Deputies and Osceola County Fire Rescue personnel sought cover and deputies established a perimeter to contain the possible suspect. Due to the fire throughout the home and the suspected gunfire that came from the home, deputies held their position until it was deemed safe to approach the property, once the fire subsided.
The Sheriff’s Office SWAT team entered the home at 7:44 in order to clear the scene. Deputies discovered a deceased male within the burned debris of the home on the second story, later identified as Smith, a resident of the home. Smith appeared to have succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun and rifle were later discovered on the property.
In the investigation deputies determined three homes and a OCFR vehicle were impacted by gunfire and preliminary evidence shows that the projectiles fired came from inside the home.
This investigation continues and detectives are working along with the State Fire Marshal in this case. Anyone with information related to this case, should contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at (407) 348-2222.
