Here’s what happened moments before, after 2 officers were shot in downtown Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 anchor Daralene Jones was on an assignment late Friday night with Orlando police and Police Chief Eric Smith when the two officers were shot just feet away.

The shooting happened less than two blocks away from the downtown precinct.

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Jones was invited by Smith to go out on patrol Friday night, downtown, as part of a special report focused on his first year as chief.

Instead, the night provided Jones with a unique real-time perspective of what officers face, and how quick and intense the moments can get.

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Fitted with a bulletproof vest, Jones listened in on the briefing with the additional 35 officers working extra shifts to help keep downtown Orlando safe

Chief Eric Smith routinely patrols with his officers, and Friday night he happened to be with this unit.

“You have assigned positions, we’ll stick to those. As always watch out for each other, be safe, Smith said.

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Another 10 bike officers and a tactical unit temporarily pulled from other neighborhoods were already on patrol looking out for bad actors, some hustling to clear the streets for nighttime crowds, and putting up barricades.

“Sergeant has to make sure all the roads are shut down,” Smith said. “Part of the new permit, we have officers assigned near some of the bigger nightclubs.”

Roughly 10 minutes later, there was a call about a foot chase, less than two blocks away, that quickly developed into shots fired and a vehicle pursuit on I-4.

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Chief Eric Smith and a sergeant hustled past Jones to join the chase, only to find out moments later that two officers had been shot. Jones said they heard the gunshots.

Seconds matter, other officers drove the two officers to the trauma center at Orlando Health.

See more from Jones’ experience in the video above.

Daralene Jones describes scene where 2 officers were shot in downtown Orlando Daralene Jones breaks down the officer-involved shooting scene in downtown Orlando late Friday. (WFTV)

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