Orlando police say a man is in custody after an accidental gunshot sent a round into a downtown building last week, leaving a mark on the exterior but, fortunately, no one hurt. Investigators said the shot was fired on Thursday, and a trail of leads eventually took them all the way to Pinellas County, where the suspect was arrested on Monday.
According to WKMG/ClickOrlando, the incident unfolded on July 2 when the man allegedly placed a handgun in a trash can, came back for it and accidentally fired a round that struck a downtown building. Officers recovered the gun and determined it had been reported stolen. Investigators told the station the man appeared intoxicated and ran off when officers tried to detain him.
Downtown location
The round struck the exterior of a structure in the heart of downtown Orlando, an area that fills up in the evenings with restaurant and nightlife traffic. Nearby, the Grand Bohemian Hotel operates as a boutique property within walking distance of those busy spots. The hotel lists its address as 325 South Orange Avenue, according to Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando.
Arrest and charges
As reported by WKMG/ClickOrlando, the suspect was identified as Justice S. Fletcher. He was arrested in Pinellas County on July 6 by the sheriff's office on unrelated charges and on a warrant from the Orlando Police Department. In Orlando, Fletcher faces counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, shooting into a public building and resisting an officer without violence. In Pinellas County, he faces a battery charge and a controlled-substance offense. WKMG reported that no one was injured in the downtown incident.
Legal implications
Aggravated assault, which can include assault with a deadly weapon, is classified as a felony under state law, as set out in Florida Statute 784.021. Prosecutors in Orange and Pinellas counties will decide whether to move forward on the listed charges and will determine the timetable for the case to proceed through the courts.
Court records will detail any formal filings and scheduled hearings, and those public documents will outline the next steps in the case. We will update this story as more records or official statements become available.
