Florida carjacking suspect shot after running at deputies with metal rod

ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida reporter witnessed an officer-involved shooting Tuesday at around noon, according to NBC station WESH.

WESH reporter Tony Atkins said he was getting off of I-4 in Orlando when he saw heavy police presence at a gas station in the area of Michigan Street and Westmoreland Drive.

As he approached, he saw deputies pointing rifles at an individual. He then saw the deputies shoot the individual as a firefighter told him to keep moving away from the scene.

Video from WESH’s helicopter showed two vehicles crashed at the scene, a car into a car wash and a truck into a gas pump.

According to Orange County Sheriff John Mina, deputies initially responded to a crash, but they learned that someone had punched someone in the face and tried to carjack the truck, which led to it crashing into the pump.

Mina said when deputies arrived, the man was wielding a metal rod and ran at them. One deputy used his stun gun, but it did not stop the suspect.

“That man turned back around and ran at the deputies still holding that metal rod,” the sheriff said.

Two deputies shot the man and gave him first aid. As of this report, the suspect is still alive and went under surgery to treat his wounds.

The suspect now faces charges for attempted carjacking, battery, and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

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