Police in Orlando said a SWAT team was serving a search warrant at a tattoo shop on Friday afternoon when a tattoo artist was shot and killed. It happened on Edgewater Drive near Lee Road when the standoff escalated. According to investigators, officers were targeting “multiple suspects” believed to have extensive criminal histories.The Orlando Police Department, however, has not released any details on how many suspects were involved, who, if anyone, was arrested, or what led up to the fatal shooting. Family identified the man killed during the standoff as Kaleb Williams, a 20-year-old tattoo artist working at the shop. What we know2 p.m.: OPD SWAT served a search warrant related to drugs and firearms at a tattoo shop involving multiple suspectsShortly after 2 p.m.: OPD said officers entered the shop and fired at the suspect, who was allegedly armed with an AK-47-style rifle as he fled back into the shop and barricaded with other suspectsShortly after 3 p.m.: Orlando police SWAT entered the shop again, after first sending in a robot dog, and found a man deadWhat witnesses sayJabriel Aponte, who works a few doors down, said he had spoken with the man just hours before the shooting. The artist had recently begun two tattoos for him, including one featuring a Bible verse.Michael Kennedy, who owns Southern Style BBQ next door, said he heard gunfire as police moved in.“I was in the back getting ready to serve a customer, and then I happened to come around the corner and the first thing I see is a robot dog coming out of the van,” Kennedy said.Police say one suspect armed with an AK-47 rifle ran back inside the shop and barricaded himself with several others. When the standoff ended, one person was killed. Residents and nearby workers say the man was a tattoo artist who worked inside the shop, but WESH 2 is withholding his identity until it is confirmed by family or investigators.“He always smiled,” Kennedy said. “He came and bought food. He was a pleasant kid — just busy and doing what he loved to do.”Robot dogOfficers used a robot dog at one point, sending into the shop through shattered glass in the front. Family disputes accountsThe family of Williams disputed OPD’s account of what happened, saying their loved one was not a “suspect” and should have never died.”This was not meant for him,” said Williams’ mother, Natalie Birch-Escribano. “He didn’t have no warrant, he wasn’t armed, they literally, he was at the wrong place, wrong time.” WESH 2 has followed up with OPD to ask about any arrests made, whether Williams was the subject of the search warrant, and whether police were still working to identify other suspects.But the department said Friday that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would be handling the investigation of the events.”You’re fighting to protect people, not kill them!” said Williams’ best friend, Blair Gusmas. “I don’t say long live Kaleb, because he’s still standing with us. He’s still here. But I promise you, for his son, for his mother, we are going to speak.”Remembering Kaleb WilliamsFriends remember Williams on social media, tagging what appears to be his page.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Police in Orlando said a SWAT team was serving a search warrant at a tattoo shop on Friday afternoon when a tattoo artist was shot and killed.
It happened on Edgewater Drive near Lee Road when the standoff escalated. According to investigators, officers were targeting “multiple suspects” believed to have extensive criminal histories.
The Orlando Police Department, however, has not released any details on how many suspects were involved, who, if anyone, was arrested, or what led up to the fatal shooting.
Family identified the man killed during the standoff as Kaleb Williams, a 20-year-old tattoo artist working at the shop.
What we know
2 p.m.: OPD SWAT served a search warrant related to drugs and firearms at a tattoo shop involving multiple suspects
Shortly after 2 p.m.: OPD said officers entered the shop and fired at the suspect, who was allegedly armed with an AK-47-style rifle as he fled back into the shop and barricaded with other suspects
Shortly after 3 p.m.: Orlando police SWAT entered the shop again, after first sending in a robot dog, and found a man dead
What witnesses say
Jabriel Aponte, who works a few doors down, said he had spoken with the man just hours before the shooting. The artist had recently begun two tattoos for him, including one featuring a Bible verse.
Michael Kennedy, who owns Southern Style BBQ next door, said he heard gunfire as police moved in.
“I was in the back getting ready to serve a customer, and then I happened to come around the corner and the first thing I see is a robot dog coming out of the van,” Kennedy said.
Police say one suspect armed with an AK-47 rifle ran back inside the shop and barricaded himself with several others. When the standoff ended, one person was killed. Residents and nearby workers say the man was a tattoo artist who worked inside the shop, but WESH 2 is withholding his identity until it is confirmed by family or investigators.
“He always smiled,” Kennedy said. “He came and bought food. He was a pleasant kid — just busy and doing what he loved to do.”
Robot dog
Officers used a robot dog at one point, sending into the shop through shattered glass in the front.
Family disputes accounts
The family of Williams disputed OPD’s account of what happened, saying their loved one was not a “suspect” and should have never died.
“This was not meant for him,” said Williams’ mother, Natalie Birch-Escribano. “He didn’t have no warrant, he wasn’t armed, they literally, he was at the wrong place, wrong time.”
WESH 2 has followed up with OPD to ask about any arrests made, whether Williams was the subject of the search warrant, and whether police were still working to identify other suspects.
But the department said Friday that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would be handling the investigation of the events.
“You’re fighting to protect people, not kill them!” said Williams’ best friend, Blair Gusmas. “I don’t say long live Kaleb, because he’s still standing with us. He’s still here. But I promise you, for his son, for his mother, we are going to speak.”
Remembering Kaleb Williams
Friends remember Williams on social media, tagging what appears to be his page.