Police identify man killed in downtown Orlando officer-involved shooting

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando police said an officer shot and killed a man early Monday morning in downtown Orlando.

Chief Eric Smith said officers were patrolling the area of Jefferson Street and Orange Avenue early Monday morning because it has been a “hot spot” for criminal activity. Smith said Orlando police have seized numerous guns in that vicinity in recent months.

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Shortly before 2 a.m., Smith said officers at that location noticed a driver who was involved in drug activity.

He said officers began to investigate and made contact with that driver, who did not obey commands, according to Smith.

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Smith said when the suspect made a quick movement as if to retrieve a gun, an officer fired his weapon, striking the suspect.

The suspect was taken to a hospital but did not survive.

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Orlando police identified the man killed in the shooting as Derek Diaz, 26. Police said the did not find a gun on Diaz, but did find drugs.

The OPD officer is on administrative leave and an investigation into the shooting is underway by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Smith said.

You can watch Smith’s media briefing below:

Media Briefing with Chief Smith regarding the Officer Involved Shooting in the area of Jefferson Street and North Orange Avenue. pic.twitter.com/4vN7ADlIPg
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 3, 2023

#BreakingNews @OrlandoPolice officer involved in fatal shooting. They say suspect was involved in “drug activity” when he made sudden movement for what they thought was a weapon. Cops found drugs but no gun. Watch @wftv for more. pic.twitter.com/jWjQn4uhrS
— Q McCray (@QMcCrayWFTV) July 3, 2023

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There has been an officer-involved shooting at Jefferson Street and Orange Avenue. Chief Smith will be giving a media briefing at OPD Headquarters at 3:45 a.m. pic.twitter.com/J7V7WcsIea
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 3, 2023

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