An early morning disturbance in Orlando led to the fatal shooting of a 62-year-old man by police officers. As reported by ClickOrlando, the incident occurred after the Orlando Police Department was alerted to a suspicious person on the 200 block of E. Colonial Drive around 2:42 a.m.
The officers were responding to a call of a man seen with an AR-15-style rifle leaning on someone's door. According to Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith, the individual who reported the gunman knew the suspect, but details of their relationship were not disclosed. The suspect, upon confrontation, was holding the weapon as officers arrived at the open room, per information provided by WESH.
Orlando Police indicated that after officers gave multiple commands to the suspect to drop the gun, he turned towards them with the rifle in hand. It was at this point that "three officers fired their weapon. The suspect is now deceased," as Chief Smith stated in a briefing later that morning, as ClickOrlando detailed.
Following the shooting, officers attempted to administer lifesaving measures, but the suspect was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The three officers involved in the incident had their body-worn cameras active during the event. They have since been placed on paid administrative leave.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has commenced an investigation into the shooting, and the Orlando Police Department is expected to conduct an internal review upon its conclusion.
