TIMELINE: Suspect dead, 2 Orlando officers shot expected to recover, officials says
Two Orlando police officers are in critical condition after they were shot during a traffic stop Friday night.
Channel 9 has several crews working to provide live updates on Eyewitness News.
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See live updates on this breaking news story:
11:30 P.M. update:
Our team has been on multiple scenes throughout the day for LIVE coverage of the shooting that sent two Orlando police officers to the hospital.
6:30 p.m. update:
Our team coverage of Friday’s shooting that sent two Orlando police officers to the hospital continues.
Watch our in-depth coverage below:
4 p.m. update:
Gov. Ron DeSantis has released a statement on the shooting that left two Orlando police officers injured.
“Casey DeSantis and I are praying for the officers, their families and the entire Orlando Police Department. Our brave men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect. The perpetrator must face harsh justice.”
Read more reactions from officials in Central Florida and beyond by clicking here.
2:55 p.m. update:
Channel 9 is working to gather more information about Daton Viel, the man accused of shooting two police officers in downtown Orlando. Click here to see what we know so far.
Read: Daton Viel: What we know about man accused of shooting 2 Orlando police officers
1:25 p.m. update:
You can watch the latest update from Orlando officials on the case in full below:
12:45 p.m. update:
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said the person who shot two Orlando police officers on Friday night is dead.
He said officers caught up with Daton Viel, 28, at a Holiday Inn on Caravan Court on Saturday morning. He said Viel barricaded himself inside a hotel room, and the SWAT team evacuated the hotel.
Smith said Viel fired at officers, and officers fired back. Viel died from his injuries.
Smith said the second suspect originally sought by police related to the shooting was found not be involved. He said there is no threat to the public.
Smith did not identify the two officers Viel is accused of shooting on Friday night, but doctors said both officers are expected be fully recover from their injuries.
11:30 a.m. update:
Orlando police are set to give an update on the officer-involved shooting at 12:30 p.m.
Next media briefing will be at 12:30 pm at @orlandohealth. Media please enter through the main entrance and head to the North Tower classroom. https://t.co/Ndaypjp0hi
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) August 5, 2023
The update will be given from the Orlando Reginal Medical Center where the two officers who were shot are being treated.
Channel 9 has a crew at the hospital and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
9:30 a.m. update:
Orlando police said there is a large police presence in southwest Orlando that is related to the officer-involved shooting from Friday night.
Police are asking the public to avoid the 5900 block of Caravan Court.
The area is near the International Drive outlet mall.
Officers have not said how the scene is related to the officer-involved shooting in downtown Orlando.
Channel 9 has a crew working to gather more details and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
9 a.m. update:
The Orlando Police Department has confirmed its officers are still “fighting for their lives” at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Police said several law enforcement agencies are still assisting with the ongoing search for the two suspects.
Sources have confirmed with Channel 9 that one of the offers shot was a man and the other was a woman.
Orlando police are planning to share more details later Saturday but did not give an exact time.
7:45 a.m. update:
Law enforcement officials from around Central Florida are sending their well wishes to the Orlando officers who were shot.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said his officers are praying for the Orlando officers and said “I pledge my full support and resources to [the Orlando Police Department] in pursuit of the suspects.”
Prayers up for the two @OrlandoPolice officers that were shot and critically injured in Downtown. I pledge my full support and resources to @OrlandoPolice in pursuit of the suspects!
— Chief Jakari Young (@ChiefJakari) August 5, 2023
Orange County Sheriff John Mina also took to social media to show his support.
“Sending prayers for these two officers and our partners at [the Orlando Police Department],” Mina said. “We will help bring the suspects to justice.”
Sending prayers for these two officers and our partners at @OrlandoPolice We will help bring the suspects to justice. https://t.co/GpBJ5sEbWu
— Sheriff John Mina (@SheriffMina) August 5, 2023
3:30 a.m. update:
Orlando police Chief Eric Smith provided Channel 9 with the following statement early Saturday after two of his police officers were critically injured late Friday in a traffic stop in downtown Orlando:
“This is a sad day for our police department. I want to thank all the law enforcement agencies who are assisting us. We will find these suspects and bring them to justice.”
A manhunt continues for two suspects as the officers fight for their lives at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
PHOTOS: Officer-involved shooting under investigation in downtown Orlando
Smith said the suspects carjacked a driver and led police on a pursuit.
An active manhunt is now underway near the Marden Ridge apartments, which is not far from Apopka.
Channel 9′s Alex Walker said he witnessed a tow truck leaving that scene with a black car.
He said a car was abandoned after the pursuit.
JUST IN: A tow truck has left the scene of an active manhunt here in Apopka near Marden Ridge Apartments.
Black car on the tow truck. There was a car abandoned after a pursuit. @WFTV
Two officers were shot 16 miles from here in downtown Orlando and a pursuit led to this scene pic.twitter.com/rpdAYXBCOi— Alex Walker (@AlexWalkerTV) August 5, 2023
2:05 a.m. update:
Two Orlando police officers were critically injured Friday evening in a shooting during a traffic stop in downtown Orlando.
Shortly before 11 p.m., police stopped a car near West Washington Street and North Garland Avenue that was wanted in connection with a homicide in Miami.
Orlando police Chief Eric Smith said a suspect shot two officers during the traffic stop and carjacked another driver before fleeing the scene. A vehicle pursuit then began.
WATCH: Daralene Jones describes officer-involved shooting scene
Both officers are now in critical condition and being treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
A manhunt is now underway for the gunman.
“We will find you, and you will be brought to justice,” Orlando police Chief Eric Smith said during a brief news conference shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday.
By now you've heard of the shooting that hurt two officers in Orlando tonight. They're in critical condition. A search is underway for the suspects in Apopka, who were wanted out of Miami for murder.
Here's some video I took after we first got on scene. pic.twitter.com/WsHwyP6BAB— Nick Papantonis WFTV (@NPapantonisWFTV) August 5, 2023
Smith thanked his fellow law enforcement officers for their assistance with the manhunt.
Police have also gathered at another scene at the Marden Ridge apartments near Marden Road and State Road 414, not far from Apopka. That scene is about 16 miles away from where the shooting happened.
Investigators have not released details about that scene yet. See video of that scene below.
Watch live, continuous coverage on Channel 9 Eyewitness News by clicking here.
Click here to download our news app for live updates on this breaking news story.
1:50 a.m. update:
Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in downtown Orlando.
The shooting happened at about 10:45 p.m. Friday at West Washington Street and North Garland Avenue near the Orlando Police Department substation.
Channel 9 anchor Daralene Jones had been invited by the Orlando Police Department to interview Orlando police Chief Eric Smith on Friday evening during a police briefing.
Shortly after the briefing, officers left the substation to begin their patrols, and calls began to go out over the police radio of “shots fired.”
Jones said she heard four gunshots not long thereafter.
Law enforcement officers from various agencies were then seen rushing onto Interstate 4.
Police have gathered at the Marden Ridge apartments near Marden Road and State Road 414, not far from Apopka. This scene is about 16 miles away from where the shooting happened.
Smith told Jones Friday that 1,300 guns have been confiscated in Orlando since he was appointed police chief about a year ago. Many of those guns were confiscated in downtown Orlando, he said.
Numerous police officers have gathered at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Family members have also showed up to the hospital.
Smith will provide a live update on the shooting at about 2 a.m. Watch it live on Channel 9 Eyewitness News or by clicking here.
Near Marden Ridge Apartments in Apopka. The police chopper is extending its search circle by the minute. Suspect in the Orlando officer-involved shooting is believed to be in this area. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/ZraGyHYBLH
— Alex Walker (@AlexWalkerTV) August 5, 2023
1:10 a.m. update:
Watch live, continuous coverage on this breaking news story on Channel 9 Eyewitness News and on your phone and smart TV by clicking here.
12:45 a.m. update:
Orlando police Chief Eric Smith will be providing a live update about the officer-involved shooting in downtown Orlando at about 2 a.m. outside of Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Channel 9 has multiple crews at scenes, gathering more details.
Click here to download our news app to receive live updates on this breaking news story as they come in to our newsroom, and scroll down to read earlier updates.
Media Partners, Chief Smith will be providing a briefing at approximately 2 a.m. outside of Orlando Regional Medical Center at https://t.co/S5Rn2nUORW Avenue and Sturtevant Street. https://t.co/14862yE9TT
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) August 5, 2023
Earlier story:
Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in downtown Orlando.
The shooting happened Friday evening near West Washington Street and North Garland Avenue.
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People are being asked to avoid the area.
No further information was immediately available.
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Check back and watch Channel 9 for live updates.
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See a map of the scene below:
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