WINTER GARDEN, FL – A dispute over an ATV riding through an apartment complex turned deadly when a Florida man allegedly shot and killed another man, authorities said.
Ralph Francis Hensel, 57, is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of 32-year-old Ja’Keem Williams. Events unfolded at the Bay Pointe apartments in Winter Garden, a suburb of Orlando, following a complaint about Williams riding an ATV in the area, according to an arrest affidavit.
The apartment’s leasing office manager contacted authorities just before 4 p.m. on the day of the incident about the ATV activity. Merely a minute later, a report of a shooting was made to the police. Officers arrived to find a resident administering CPR to Williams, but his demise was clear.
Witnesses recounted seeing Hensel, armed with a gun, approach Williams as he rode the ATV. Hensel reportedly shouted at Williams, but the words were unclear. The situation escalated rapidly, with witnesses hearing two gunshots shortly thereafter.
Security footage from the complex allegedly captured Hensel waiting for Williams with a firearm. The video evidence shows Hensel moving from the leasing office to a viewpoint where he lay in wait, ultimately shooting Williams as he drove by.
After the shooting, Hensel is said to have returned to the leasing office and purportedly admitted to the act, telling those present, “I killed him.” Officers arrested Hensel at the scene and found a gun nearby, matching the description provided.
The incident has brought previous complaints about ATV riding to light. Law enforcement records indicate multiple interventions at the complex regarding ATV activity. A rental official confirmed residents had been cautioned against driving ATVs on the property.
Interviewed family members expressed their grief and disbelief. Briana Bermudez, the mother of three of Williams’ children, lamented the senseless nature of her partner’s death, noting Hensel’s alleged lack of remorse.
Williams is remembered as a devoted father by those close to him. Bermudez and the other mother of his children described a man who cherished his five children, leaving behind a significant void in their young lives.
Hensel remains detained at the Orange County Jail without the option for bond. His arraignment is set for February 28 as the community grapples with the violence that shattered a family’s future.