A grand jury has cleared an Orange County deputy of any wrongdoing in a shooting incident that occurred in April 2024. According to an official statement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), deputies had responded to a call at an apartment complex on United Kingdom Circle after reports that a man discharged and pointed a firearm at a resident. The deputy involved shot and injured 48-year-old Jesse Lewelling when he allegedly moved toward the deputy with a gun after being instructed to drop the weapon, as reported by the State Attorney's Office.
Under the state attorney’s use of force policy, a grand jury must examine any incident where law enforcement officers use deadly force to determine the necessity of criminal charges. This grand jury reviewed all pertinent evidence and returned a no-true bill, effectively finding the deputy's actions justified in this case. However, the procedure offers a provision for the jury to contribute remarks or suggestions regarding policies and procedures for such incidents. Still, the jurors involved in this case did not provide such feedback.
The encounter details were provided to the grand jury, who ultimately decided not to press charges against the deputy. The shooting took place when Lewelling reportedly began to move rapidly toward the responding officer with a weapon in hand. The deputy, whose name has not been released, then discharged his firearm at Lewelling in response to the perceived threat.
