Orlando police officers shot and killed an armed man on Monday night after responding to a local neighborhood in reference to a domestic disturbance.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded to a home located in the 2800 block of Shining Willow Terrace at around 9:13 p.m. on Monday, December 30. Upon arrival, they observed a man – later identified as 26-year-old Timothy Woods – on the porch outside the residence.
OPD stated that Woods had a “visible gun in his pocket,” and he was instructed by the officers to avoid touching the firearm. Woods allegedly disobeyed the officers’ commands and jumped over a nearby fence in an attempt to flee from law enforcement.
Officers ran after Woods and managed to catch up to him. They then ordered him to get on the ground and reiterated that he should not reach for the gun.
According to OPD, Woods failed to comply with the officers’ instructions and was tasered as a result. At some point during this incident, the gun fell out of Woods’ pocket and onto the ground.
Woods allegedly pulled the taser prongs out and made an attempt to reach for the gun. OPD stated that this prompted several officers to shoot him.
Life saving measures were attempted by the officers, but Woods sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Woods was a convicted felon in Florida who had been arrested for 14 felonies and 7 misdemeanors for numerous charges that included aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, aggravated battery, domestic battery, resisting an officer with violence, battery of a law enforcement officer, armed robbery, aggravated assault on a first responder, aggravated battery, and domestic battery by strangulation, according to OPD.
The officers involved in the shooting were not injured and will be placed on paid administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts an independent review of the incident. The results of FDLE’s investigation will then be turned over to the State Attorney’s Office.
The Orlando Police Department will also conduct its own internal investigation. In addition, the agency stated that its officers were wearing body cameras during this incident, and that footage will be made public within 30 days.
No further details were provided by OPD.