Melbourne 'active shooter' suspect shot, killed by police after calling 911 himself: officials
Melbourne shooting suspect shot, police chief says
[10:30 a.m. update] Melbourne Police Chief David Gillespie has confirmed that the suspect involved in the "active shooter" situation in Melbourne on Wednesday morning has been shot. His condition is unknown at this time, but the "threat has been neutralized," Chief Gillespie said.
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The suspect involved in the "active shooter" situation that unfolded in Melbourne on Wednesday morning was killed after he was shot by police, officials said.
Melbourne Police Chief David Gillespie said the suspect has been identified as William J Banks Jr., 47, of Melbourne. Officers said he exited the Pentagon Garden Apartments unit he had barricaded himself in and started shooting at police officers. Several law enforcement agencies fired back at the suspect, shooting him "multiple times" and injuring him.
No police officers were hurt in the shooting, Gillespie confirmed.
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The Melbourne Police Department first reported the incident as an "active shooter situation" in a post on X just before 8:50 a.m.
Police said they received a 911 call around 8:30 a.m. from a concerned person about a suspicious individual at the complex near Babcock Street and Strawbridge Avenue.
It turns out the call was from the alleged shooter himself, according to Sgt. Ben Slover of the Melbourne Police Department. He reportedly called 911, threatening police, who responded by coming to the apartment for a wellness check.
When officers arrived at the scene, they were immediately met with gunfire from the suspect, police said, and officers were able to retreat uninjured.
"They didn't have the opportunity to knock on the door. So, again, we're very fortunate," Gillespie said.
Authorities said the officers did not return fire when the suspect first started shooting at them and instead took a defensive position, setting up a perimeter and containing the scene.
SWAT law enforcement officers and crisis negotiation teams tried to get the suspect to surrender and safely resolve the situation. But at some point, the suspect came out of the apartment unit and allegedly started firing shots at police. That's when multiple officers from at least two law enforcement agencies shot back. It remains unclear at this time how many officers shot at the suspect.
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Gillespie previously said the suspect was "in custody" after the shooting, but an update on Wednesday morning revealed that the suspect was killed.
The reason why the suspect holed himself up in the apartment and started to shoot at officers has not yet been determined, Gillespie said.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the officer-involved shooting, which is standard protocol.