A tense afternoon dispute in a Kissimmee parking lot ended without a single shot, police say, only because a handgun allegedly jammed twice during what investigators describe as an apparent attempted shooting.
According to the Tampa Free Press, detectives identified the suspect as 30-year-old Melkin Vazquez Romero and say the confrontation started around 1:57 p.m. on March 12 outside 2601 West Vine Street. Investigators told the outlet that a verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation, during which the victim reportedly pulled a knife. Vazquez Romero then allegedly left, returned with a loaded handgun, pointed it, and tried to fire twice, but the gun malfunctioned both times, and no shots were fired.
He was later booked into the Osceola County Jail on a charge of attempted first-degree premeditated murder and is being held without bond, according to the report. Court records show that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer.
Police chief praises quick work
Kissimmee Police Chief Charles Broadway credited his officers with swiftly tracking down the suspect, telling the Tampa Free Press, "Let me be clear: anyone who comes to Kissimmee to commit violence will face the consequences." Broadway said the department will coordinate with the State Attorney’s Office to pursue prosecution.
What an ICE detainer means
Court records indicate an ICE detainer was placed on Vazquez Romero, a move that typically keeps a person in local custody while federal immigration authorities decide whether to assume control of the case. The American Civil Liberties Union notes that an ICE detainer is an administrative request, not a judicial warrant, and civil-liberties groups and courts have closely scrutinized when and how such requests are honored.
What’s next
Authorities say the State Attorney’s Office is expected to review the investigation for formal charges. Detectives report they located Vazquez Romero after a weeklong probe, and police have not released any additional details about the case.
