Six Orlando Police Department officers involved in an August 2023 fatal shooting have been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by a grand jury.
On August 5, 2023, members of the Orlando Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics team responded to a Holiday Inn in the 5900 block of Grand Caravan Court in Orlando.
The officers were trying to serve an arrest warrant on Daton Viel, who shot two OPD officers earlier that evening. Upon arrival, the crisis negotiation team attempted to get Viel to exit peacefully, but they were unsuccessful.
The SWAT team breached Viel’s room and attempted to get him to exit. After refusing to exit for several minutes, Viel exited the room armed with a firearm.
Officers shot and killed him as he was attempting to leave.
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 with all relevant evidence in the case and returned a no true bill as to each officer involved.
Under Florida law, the grand jury may 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 Orlando use of force case.
