Downtown Orlando shooting: Argument between rival gangs may have prompted shooting, police say

ORLANDO, Fla. - After nearly five months, no one has been arrested in a shooting that left nine people hurt following a large fight in downtown Orlando over the summer, but police said their investigation has garnered several new leads.

Investigators on Thursday released a new video of the incident which happened on July 31 in Wall Street Plaza, a busy Sunday night for bars and restaurants. 

"We can tell you the shooting is a result of an ongoing dispute between rival gangs," said Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith during a news conference.

Chief Smith said the gun believed to be used in the shooting has been located.  "The sole firearm involved is now off the streets. It was recovered in Daytona Beach in connection to a separate, unrelated crime." 

(Photos via Orlando Police Department)

Chief Smith said detectives have questioned 25 people, but not everyone is cooperating.  "We’ve narrowed the suspect pool down to a small group of gang-affiliated individuals we have identified. Once again we need the public’s help in piecing these things together," he said.

As bars and restaurants were closing on the night of the shooting, police officers responded to the area of Wall Street Plaza and South Orange Avenue, after a fight and shooting broke out, sending crowds of people running for safety. Police said there were no city cameras that captured the shooting. Nine people were shot.

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Investigators believe the people involved in the incident were captured on the newly released video, which was taken from an ATM near South Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard. OPD said it shows a group of people who reportedly were involved in an argument that day. Police said the shooting took place a short time later.

Officers also released video footage that details the moments just before and right after the shooting took place. In the body camera video, officers are seen responding to a separate nearby fight in the crowds of people. 

Seconds later, the video shows the quick response by officers when a gun is fired, and people are seen running, while others are seen injured on the ground.

Since the shooting, Chief Smith said patrols have been increased throughout downtown.  "There’s a number of officers on every corner. There’s a number of officers in between. There’s a number of officers in front of every major establishment, so there’s a large police presence downtown." 

FOX 35 News asked downtown residents if they were concerned. 

"I’ll be a little more cautious. It doesn’t scare me. I’m always aware of my surroundings and looking around, I’m not afraid," Nancy Grant said.

Anthony Toro told us, "That’s their world, and unfortunately, it comes into our world and that’s unfair to us, but we have to live our lives going forward."

The police department has also reopened its online portal for the public to upload any pictures or video from that night. 

Anyone who may have information about the people seen in the video, or any details that could help solve the case, is asked to call police at 321-235-5300 or contacting Crimeline anonymously at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) or by texting **TIPS (8477). Those tips can lead to a reward of $5,000.