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Police identify man who shot at them at Melbourne apartment complex

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Read live updates about a shooting involving Melbourne police below:

WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

8:10 p.m. update

The Melbourne Police Department identified the suspect who shot at law enforcement at an apartment complex on Wednesday.

Police said the man was 47-year-old William Banks Jr. from Melbourne.

Investigators said they received a well-being call shortly before 8 a.m. at the Pentagon Apartment Complex.

Police officers arrived at the complex and knocked on the door when the man began shooting at officers.

Law enforcement took cover, and the man fired at the additional officers who arrived at the scene for backup.

The police department said that crisis negotiators contacted the man by phone, and he stepped out of the front door with a weapon.

Police officers fired at the man, who then died from his injuries.

Officers involved will be put on administrative leave, as is standard protocol. Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents had also responded.


4:50 p.m. update

The Melbourne Police Department has yet to publicly identify the man whom police killed Wednesday morning after he shot at officers.

The shootout happened at about 8:30 a.m. at the Pentagon Gardens Apartments near Babcock Street and Strawbridge Avenue.

Police ordered residents to shelter in place as the shooting unfolded.

Photos: Police working ‘active shooter situation’ in Melbourne

They said they did not want to evacuate the apartment complex because the gunman was actively shooting outside.

Blake Moia, who lives at the complex, said he heard the gunfire Wednesday morning.

“I heard a bunch of gunshots -- about 8 to 10 -- then a final pop a couple seconds after that,” he said.

Police said the gunman was holed up for almost two hours before he was shot to death.


12:07 p.m. update

The Melbourne Police Department said Wednesday afternoon that the gunman has died of his injuries.

Watch live updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.


12 p.m. update

Melbourne police continue to investigate a standoff at an apartment complex that left a suspected gunman shot multiple times.

Watch live team coverage on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.


10:50 a.m. update

The Melbourne Police Department said Wednesday morning that officers shot a man that shot at them at an apartment complex.

They said residents called them at 8:30 a.m. in reference to a “suspicious situation” at the complex.

Police said they were met with gunfire upon their arrival to the complex.

They took cover and called in backup.

Investigators said that is when the gunman shot more rounds at officers.

They said multiple officers then shot the armed man, and he was taken into custody.

No officers were injured during the shootings.

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Police said “the threat has been neutralized” and that there is “no further threat to public safety.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

Channel 9 has multiple crews at the scene. Watch live team coverage on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.


10:15 a.m. update

Channel 9′s Q McCray is near the scene and monitoring police activity in the area and posted this update on X:


9:35 a.m. update

Channel 9 has a crew at the scene. See photos below:

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9:20 a.m. update

Melbourne police said people need to avoid the area between Babcock Street and Hibiscus Boulevard and Babcock Street and Fee Avenue.

Police said the situation is still active.


Original report

Officers said the shooting happened in the area of Babcock Street and Strawbridge Avenue.

Police are telling people to avoid the area.

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No other details were released by law enforcement.

Channel 9 has a crew working to gather more details and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.

Jason Kelly

Jason Kelly, WFTV.com

Jason Kelly joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2014. He serves as the station's Digital Executive Producer.

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