A grand jury decided on an Orange County deputy-involved shooting case.
An Orange County grand jury has cleared an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy of any criminal wrongdoing in an April 2024 deputy-involved shooting.
On April 19th, OCSO deputies responded to an apartment complex in the 3000 block of United Kingdom Circle for reports of a man who had discharged a firearm and pointed it at a resident. One of the first responding deputies approached the apartment building and the subject, 48-year-old Jesse Lewelling.
Lewelling began to move rapidly toward the deputy with a gun. The deputy commanded Lewelling to drop the weapon before discharging his firearm, striking and injuring Lewelling.
The state attorney’s use of force policy requires all cases where law enforcement officers use deadly use of force to be presented to a grand jury to determine whether criminal charges are appropriate.
The grand jury was presented all relevant evidence in the case and returned a no true bill.
The use of force policy allows the grand jury to make a statement regarding policies, procedures and recommendations related to the use of force. The grand jury declined to issue a presentment on the case and chose not to issue a statement on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
State Attorney Andrew Bain’s Office has now closed the use of force case.
