An Orange County sheriff’s deputy shot a man who opened fire on the deputy’s vehicle Friday night as the agency searched for a suspect in a Christmas Eve homicide case, according to Sheriff John Mina.
Mina held a press conference detailing the shooting that left the unidentified 20-year-old hospitalized. The deputy, also not named, suffered no injuries.
Deputies in unmarked vehicles from the felony unit had been at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Buchanan Bay Circle south of Holden Avenue around 9:40 p.m. performing surveillance of a homicide suspect so they could serve a DNA search warrant. They identified the suspect and another man.
“As soon as our deputies exited their vehicle, this other man opened fire on our deputies, striking one of our vehicles,” Mina said.
After the deputy returned fire striking the man, they were able to approach him and give first aid until paramedics arrived, Mina said.
The homicide case suspect also was armed with a handgun and was detained and questioned by deputies, the sheriff said.
The man who was shot was in surgery as of Friday night, but will face charges for shooting at deputies, Mina said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting and turn over its findings to the State Attorney’s Office for review, Mina said. The sheriff’s office will perform its own internal investigation, as well.
Body-worn camera of the incident will be released within 30 days, Mina said.
The deputy who fired his weapon is on temporary, paid administrative leave.