{"id":4188,"date":"2025-10-15T06:40:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T06:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/4188\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T06:40:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T06:40:45","slug":"im-not-dressed-swat-officers-evacuate-hotel-guests-before-killing-fugitive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/4188\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m not dressed:\u2019 SWAT officers evacuate hotel guests before killing fugitive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Newly obtained video shows the Orlando Police Department SWAT team evacuating guests from a theme park area hotel in 2023 before fatally shooting a fugitive who was hiding out in one of the rooms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kNAFkD cuqaEv article-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/topic\/Daton_Viel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/topic\/Daton_Viel\/\">Daton Viel<\/a>, 28, was wanted by authorities on multiple arrest warrants when two Orlando police officers encountered him in a downtown parking lot on the evening of Aug. 4, 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kNAFkD cuqaEv article-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/investigators\/2025\/04\/01\/help-im-shot-new-video-shows-gunman-wounding-2-orlando-police-officers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/investigators\/2025\/04\/01\/help-im-shot-new-video-shows-gunman-wounding-2-orlando-police-officers\/\">Viel shot and critically wounded officers Kaley Powell and Andy Rodriguez<\/a> before carjacking a passerby and fleeing the area, investigators said. The two officers have since recovered from their injuries. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">[WATCH: Video shows gunman wounding 2 Orlando police officers]<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kNAFkD cuqaEv article-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/local\/2023\/08\/05\/a-very-long-night-orlando-police-chief-details-search-investigation-after-suspect-shot-2-officers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/local\/2023\/08\/05\/a-very-long-night-orlando-police-chief-details-search-investigation-after-suspect-shot-2-officers\/\">Following an all-night manhunt<\/a>, police learned Viel was holed up on the fifth floor of a Holiday Inn &amp; Suites located on Kirkman Road and Caravan Court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Through a public record request, the Orlando Police Department released video to News 6 last week that was recorded by officers\u2019 body-worn cameras as they tried to apprehend Viel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Around 8 a.m., about nine hours after Viel shot the two police officers, members of the police department\u2019s SWAT team began evacuating hotel guests from rooms on the same floor where Viel was believed to be hiding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cHey, you need to leave the room. Come outside,\u201d whispered one of the SWAT officers as he quietly knocked on a hotel room door, presumably trying to avoid alerting Viel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWhy are you here?\u201d a woman behind the door could be heard on video asking. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cLet\u2019s go. You need to come out now,\u201d the officer whispered. \u201cImmediately.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI\u2019m not dressed,\u201d replied the hotel guest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">At the same time, fellow SWAT officers escorted adults and children out of other hotel rooms, including some guests who were still wearing pajamas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWhat\u2019s your room number?\u201d one of the officers asked a group that was being ushered out through an emergency exit. The officer then notified other SWAT members that the room was evacuated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">[WATCH: Why was gunman Daton Viel on the streets?]<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Once hotel guests were evacuated from the fifth floor, a member of the SWAT team detonated an explosive device attached to room number 509\u2019s door to breach the entryway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cHe\u2019s putting his gun out the door,\u201d one of the officers could be heard saying moments after the explosion. \u201cHe\u2019s shooting!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">According to an investigative summary produced by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the officers exchanged gunfire with Viel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Video from the officers\u2019 cameras shows the SWAT team firing a volley of rounds down the hall towards Viel\u2019s room.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWe don\u2019t need to shoot anymore,\u201d one of the officers yelled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cYou\u2019re shooting at me!\u201d replied a man\u2019s voice believed to be Viel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">About four minutes later, Viel left his room and ran towards an emergency exit at the end of the hallway where SWAT officers fatally shot him, police records and video show.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">[WATCH: Orlando police swarm area after 2 officers shot, critically wounded (from 2023)]<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">A handgun with an extended magazine found feet away from Viel\u2019s body appeared to be the same one Viel used to shoot the two police officers the previously evening, an FDLE report indicates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kNAFkD cuqaEv article-text\">In 2024, a grand jury determined the officers who shot Viel did nothing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/local\/2024\/08\/12\/6-orlando-police-officers-who-killed-cop-shooting-suspect-cleared-of-wrongdoing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/local\/2024\/08\/12\/6-orlando-police-officers-who-killed-cop-shooting-suspect-cleared-of-wrongdoing\/\">warrant any criminal charges for their use of force. <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kNAFkD cuqaEv article-text\">Four days after the attack, amid questions about why Viel was on the street despite his lengthy criminal history, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/investigators\/2023\/08\/09\/worrell-disputes-claim-by-governor-and-attorney-general-that-she-was-responsible-for-gunmans-release-from-jail\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.clickorlando.com\/news\/investigators\/2023\/08\/09\/worrell-disputes-claim-by-governor-and-attorney-general-that-she-was-responsible-for-gunmans-release-from-jail\/\">Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell.<\/a> Voters later re-elected her to the office.<\/p>\n<p>Breaking News Alerts<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kiwhtN\">Get breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Newly obtained video shows the Orlando Police Department SWAT team evacuating guests from a theme&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4189,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[4612,265,4611,2026,1335,139,141,140,277],"class_list":{"0":"post-4188","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-orlando","8":"tag-2-orlando-officers-shot","9":"tag-crime","10":"tag-daton-viel","11":"tag-investigators","12":"tag-orange-county","13":"tag-orlando","14":"tag-orlando-headlines","15":"tag-orlando-news","16":"tag-public-safety"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4188\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}