ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Police are still investigating why chaos erupted on South John Young Parkway after police said an officer shot a suspect outside of a gas station.
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Preliminary investigation states the shooting happened at 2:20 pm Friday on the corner of South John Young Parkway and Old Winter Garden Road outside of the Circle K gas station.
“There is busy business at BP, so you have to make a judgment call. You got to act. You give multiple commands to drop the gun. People are at risk. You got to take action,” said Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith.
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According to Orlando Police, they received multiple frantic calls about a man dressed entirely in black, pacing back and forth brandishing a gun between the gas station and the Greyhound Bus Station.
Police said for nearly four hours, they barricaded the parts of John Young Parkway to get the man to drop the gun. Chief Smith said during a press conference that officers gave the suspect numerous orders to drop the weapon he was holding. He ignored those commands and was shot.
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“The way we’re trained and, what our job is to keep the community safe. [and] we have to stop the threat immediately we can’t just let it keep dragging on. He put my officers in a position where they had to defend themselves and protect the community,” said Smith.
Police have yet to identify the suspect but said he was taken to the hospital. Channel 9 has contacted OPD for updates on the suspect and the motive behind the situation but has yet to hear back.
Smith also said during the conference that the suspect was released from jail after serving 20 years for second-degree murder in Miami-Dade County. Smith also said the suspect is a convicted felon with multiple charges related to drug possession, theft, aggravated battery, and resisting arrest.
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Smith said the officer involved was not hurt and is on paid administrative leave.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is taking over the investigation as per protocol when an officer is involved in a shooting.
Per a press release, the officer did have a body-worn camera on during the incident, which will be available to the public within 30 days. OPD will also conduct an internal investigation into the shooting.
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