ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Sheriff John Mina says two of his deputies were forced to open fire on a man after a series of chaotic events unfolded on West Michigan Street near I-4 Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Orange County Sheriff John Mina says two of his deputies were forced to open fire on a man after a series of chaotic events unfolded on West Michigan Street near I-4 Tuesday

  • Investigators say the incident started just before noon and involved a "man behaving erratically after his vehicle crashed into another vehicle

  • According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, when deputies arrived at the scene, they found the man holding a metal rod

  • Mina said the deputies gave the man commands and even used a Taser on him, but had to open fire when he allegedly charged at them with the rod

  • The individual was not killed in the incident and now faces multiple charges

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the incident started just before noon Tuesday at a gas station in the 900 block of West Michigan Street, near I-4.

In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office said, “Deputies were called to the gas station regarding a disturbance involving a man behaving erratically after his vehicle crashed into another vehicle.”

“The man had reportedly also punched someone in the face and smashed the window of another person’s truck to try to carjack the truck, which ended up hitting the gas station,” the statement continued.

When deputies arrived, they reported finding the man brandishing a metal rod. They say he ran at them with the rod in an aggressive manner and refused the commands to stop.

“After one deputy attempted to use his Taser on the man, which appeared to be ineffective, the suspect turned back around and ran at deputies again with the metal rod,” the Sheriff’s Office statement said.

It was at that point that the two deputies opened fire, the statement said. The man, who was not identified, was given first aid at the scene before being taken to the hospital.

A witness told Spectrum News that the man punched his friend after the two — who were at a nearby business — came out to help the man.

“Instead of being grateful that my friend was helping him out, he was angry and decided to hit my friend and knocked him down to the ground,” said Herbert Tinjaca.

Mina said that after watching body cam video of the incident, he believed his deputies had exhausted their other options before they opened fire on the man. 

“He had (the rod) in the air — to me it was an attacking posture, it wasn’t a defensive posture,” Mina said. “He ran at the deputies and then circled back and ran back at the deputies, so he left them no choice. No one wants to get hit in the head with a rod and die, so our deputies did what they had to do.”

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the man is facing charges of attempted carjacking, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and battery.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting and will turn over its findings to the state attorney’s office for review. 

Sheriff’s Office officials said an internal investigation will take place once FDLE’s investigation is complete.

The deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the FDLE investigation.