Police: Orlando bike cop shoots man who shot at him

ORLANDO, Fla. — A bicycle police officer shot a 23-year-old armed man who shot at him early Monday in the Rosemont neighborhood, Orlando police Chief John Mina said.

The shooting was reported at 2:30 a.m. at a shopping center at Cinderlane Parkway and North Orange Blossom Trail, Mina said.

Mina said the officer, whose identity hasn't been released, approached Dracarris Hill. He said Hill ran away and the two exchanged gunfire. Mina didn't specify why the officer considered Hill suspicious.

The officer was not hurt.

Watch Orlando police Chief John Mina discuss the shooting below:

Police said they found Hill with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in a field about 100 yards north of the shopping center. Investigators said they also found a handgun in the field.

Hill was taken to a hospital before being booked into the Orange County Jail on charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting an officer with violence.

"Our officers risk their lives every single night," Mina said. "This is the perfect example of (how) officers never know what they're going to come in contact with."

A woman, who asked to not be identified, said she left her apartment after hearing six gunshots.

"I waited a few minutes before coming out, and then my son and I both came out the door," she said. "We knew something involved him, so we checked the ditch to make sure he wasn't laying in the ditch or anywhere around."

Records said Hill was freed from prison in February after serving a three-year sentence for burglary and grand theft convictions.

Watch footage of the scene below:

Residents in this neighborhood told us this is not the first shooting they have experienced here and doubt it will be the last.

Resident Joseph Saint Val said he often sees police activity in the area.

"When I walked (up), I (had) seen a lot of cop cars, and I was like, 'Here we go again,'" Saint Val said. "It's not my first time seeing this."

Mina said while there's no specific crime trend in this area, it's one that can be "challenging." Mina said at times, extra patrols will be allotted to the area.

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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

Mina said the officer who shot Hill has been employed by the agency for six years. He has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol after a shooting.

No other details were given.

Cox Media Group