Early on Friday morning, April 9th, an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a homeless man outside a gas station, following an altercation, a statement released from OCSO said.
At approximately 1:24 am, an Orange County deputy engaged a homeless man at the Citgo gas station located at 7373 University Boulevard. The homeless man told the deputy he was in possession of drug paraphernalia and a knife.
According to an OCSO statement, the deputy attempted to secure the homeless man, who resisted, punched the deputy in the eye and ran off. The deputy gave chase and attempted to taze the suspect but was unsuccessful. When the deputy caught up with the suspect, the homeless man pulled a knife and the deputy opened fire, the statement said. The suspect was transported to the Winter Park Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The identities of the OCSO deputy and the homeless man are not being released at this time.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the OCSO are investigating the shooting. Meanwhile, the deputy is being reassigned to administrative duties for one week.
I knew this ‘homeless’ man, I used to give him money sometimes and talk to him after work. All the articles I’v seen haven’t been telling the real story. This man was well known and loved in the community. He was shot in the back. He was shot eight times. There was a vigilance for him were people talked, laughed, and cried. The media didn’t show up to that, they have decided were to go with this story.