A man in his 20s who was suspected of attempting to burglarize a car dealership in Osceola County early Sunday was killed in an officer-involved shooting, St. Cloud Police Department says.
Around 2:40 a.m., police responded to a call of a security-alarm activation at the Starling Chevrolet on U.S. 192, the department said. Upon two SCPD officers’ arrival they found the suspect had broken into one of the vehicles on the lot and fled on foot, the department said.
Police officers chased the suspect to a nearby Wawa gas station and then jumped over a fence to an adjoining yard where they found him hiding in brush, SCPD said.
The officers said the suspect repeatedly ignored their directions and then drew a gun, SCPD said. The officers fired their weapons, striking and critically injuring the man. Neither of the two officers involved was injured, the department said.
The suspect was taken to Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, where he died from his wounds, the department said.
The suspect had an extensive criminal history, including 17 felony arrests and eight misdemeanors, SCPD said. His identity is not being released at this time because his next of kin have not yet been notified.
The investigation is ongoing.
At a press conference on Sunday morning, St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke said the department is still working to determine if other suspects were involved. But Goerke said at this time they are not looking for anyone else until security camera footage is reviewed.
“What we were told on the 9-1-1 call from the alarm-monitoring company, it said subjects,” Goerke said. “Until more information becomes available to us, and until we have a chance to really review that video footage, right now we don’t have that.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation, a routine procedure. The two officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, SCPD said. The State Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene and SCPD said they are working together.
“The loss of life is always tragic, and my thoughts are with all those affected by this incident,” Goerke said in a statement. “We are fully cooperating with the FDLE as they conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the shooting.”
