Metal rod-wielding man shot by deputies at Orlando gas station after 'confusing' crash: sheriff
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - A man wielding a metal rod was shot by deputies during an incident involving two traffic crashes, an attempted carjacking, and a random battery at an Orlando gas station on Tuesday afternoon, according to Orange County Sheriff John Mina.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office received calls just after noon about a traffic crash and a man acting "erratic" at a Chevron gas station, the sheriff said during an afternoon briefing with reporters.
At the gas station off of West Michigan Street, near Lee Street in Orlando, FOX 35 crews spotted at least two crashed vehicles – a truck that appeared to have struck a gas pump and a car that hit the car wash. Sheriff Mina said the incident involved multiple vehicles, and it was unclear how the car that crashed into the car wash was related to the investigation.
Man wielding metal rod shot by deputies at Orange County gas station
Orange County Sheriff John Mina held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon regarding an incident that happened at a gas station near West Michigan Street and South Westmoreland Drive. A man, who was wielding a metal rod and running at deputies, was shot by deputies, the sheriff said.
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Deputies learned that the suspect was involved in a traffic crash, allegedly punched another person in the face, and tried to enter and carjack another vehicle, the sheriff said. The truck that the suspect attempted to carjack then wound up hitting a gas pump.
When deputies arrived, the suspect was holding a metal rod in an "attacking posture" and refused deputies' commands, Sheriff Mina said. After a deputy unsuccessfully used a Taser on the suspect, he turned back around and allegedly charged toward deputies with the metal rod. That's when two deputies fired their weapons, the sheriff added.
The suspect was given first aid by both deputies and firefighters, who were already on the scene before he was transported to a nearby hospital. In the latest update from Sheriff Mina, he said the suspect was in surgery, and there's a "good indication" that he'll be OK.
"He left no choice, and you know, no one wants to get hit in the head with a metal rod and die. So, you know, our deputies did what they had to do," said Sheriff Mina. "It's very troubling, just seems like people are more prone in today's society to attack law enforcement."
The person who was punched in the face sustained minor injuries.
The suspect, who deputies believe is in his 30s, will face at least three criminal charges related to this incident, Sheriff Mina said – attempted carjacking, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and battery.
"There was definitely something going on with this guy," Sheriff Mina said, adding that he believed the suspect was either in a crisis or on drugs. "If you come at a deputy with a metal rod, they're gonna protect themselves."
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the deputy-involved shooting, which is standard protocol. Once their findings are turned over to the State Attorney's Office, the Orange County Sheriff's Office will conduct its internal investigation.