Dad on his way home from dropping daughter to first day of school killed after intervening in fight

Published: 03:18, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 03:27, 13 August 2026 A Florida father who had just dropped his daughter off for her first day of school was shot dead on his way home after trying to break up a heated argument between a couple.  Daryl Hill, 56, was fatally shot Tuesday morning after stopping at a crash scene near Plymouth Sorrento and West Ponkan roads to intervene in a fight between a couple, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. His wife of 17 years, Suzanne Hill, said she was tracking his location as he cycled home when the deadly confrontation unfolded. 'When his phone remained in the same position for an hour and he didn't answer, I went home to check on him, and I saw the crime scene unit,' Suzanne told WESH 2 News. 'I didn't see the scene, thank God, but I saw the detectives and confirmed my worst nightmare,' she added.  The gunman was quickly identified as 26-year-old Raul Lionel Vazquez, who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the 'senseless' killing of the father-of-three.  'Daryl was a small man but larger than life,' Suzanne said. 'Very, very angry. Very angry with somebody to do this to this man and my family.' The shooting unfolded around 8.30am Tuesday, when Hill was riding his bicycle home after dropping his 10-year-old daughter off at school in Apopka, about 20 miles northwest of Orlando. Daryl Hill, 56, of Florida, was shot dead Tuesday morning after trying to break up a heated argument between a couple The gunman was quickly identified as 26-year-old Raul Lionel Vazquez His wife of 17 years, Suzanne Hill, said he had just dropped their 10-year-old daughter off for her first day of school  The killing came after Hill stopped at a crash scene near Plymouth Sorrento and West Ponkan roads to separate a couple Around the same time, police began receiving reports of a man and woman physically fighting inside a vehicle. Witnesses then told deputies they saw a pickup truck crash into an SUV. Vazquez, shirtless and shoeless, climbed out of the pickup truck with an unidentified woman and continued arguing with her, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.  Hill stumbled upon the scene as Vazquez was allegedly yelling in the woman's face, prompting him to get off his bike and attempt to separate the pair.  The confrontation turned physical, with all three tumbling into some bushes, according to the affidavit. After getting back up, Hill ran away as Vazquez grabbed a shotgun from the back of the truck.  Hill, still running with his hands raised, was screaming 'Help!' when a shot rang out, sending the father crashing face-first to the ground.  'During that altercation, a bystander attempted to intervene and was shot. The bystander was transported to the hospital, where he died,' the sheriff's office said. During police interviews, the woman told investigators that Hill was the aggressor and had pushed Vazquez, according to court documents. When pressed further, she requested an attorney. Meanwhile, Vazquez also claimed Hill attacked him first, but deputies noted that he 'had many different accounts of the incident.'  Vazquez said his martial arts and wrestling training had him 'getting the better of' Hill before admitting he fired the shotgun, deputies wrote in the affidavit.