Officials investigating homicide near UCF

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is looking into a homicide that took place around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday on University Boulevard near UCF.

The victim has been identified as 27-year-old Bradford Young, who is not believed to be a UCF student, according to deputies.

The interaction between the parties involved started in the parking lot of the McDonald's on the corner of Alafaya Trail and University Boulevard.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the victim was traveling west on University Boulevard when he was shot. At 6:18 p.m. they received a 911 call and deputies were dispatched to 3403 Technological Ave.

The victim, who was in a two-door blue-green Honda, was taken to Florida Hospital East where he was pronounced dead due to his injuries, deputies said.

The car's driver and passenger's side windows were shattered, deputies said.

A witness, who asked not to be identified, said he was right next to the car the victim was in when the shooting occurred.

The UCF student said he was on Strategy Boulevard waiting to turn right onto Alafaya Trail when he heard a noise.

"A car pulls up next to me and I hear pop pop -- two pops -- I didn't really think they were gun shots at the time," the computer science major said. "I look to my left and I see the car's passenger window is completely shattered. The guy in the passenger seat is hugging his leg."

The witness said the car then sped off. Although the car was in the lane to turn left onto Alafaya Trail, it ended up turning right and then it moved all the way to the right lane as if to turn right on University Boulevard.

"The driver of the car, I don't think he was paying attention to the guy, he was just driving regularly as if he wanted to get out of there," the witness said in a phone interview.

After that car drove away, the witness said he saw a different car next to him. The driver of that car looked at him and then sped off. The witness does not know if the man in that car was the shooter.

"I never saw the gun, I never saw anyone shoot anything. It was just my gut feeling that something was going on here," he said.

The witness then turned right onto Alafaya Trail, as he was stopped at a red light preparing to make a left turn toward campus he heard the noise again.

"… after I heard three more pops I called 911 and I told everything to the lady," the witness said.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, deputies believe the crime was drug related. A suspect has not yet been identified.

Portions of International Plaza, located on the corner of Technological Avenue and University Boulevard, have been taped off while police are looking into the incident.

McDonald's re-opened around 8:45 p.m.

Continue to check back for updates as more information is released.