A 25-year-old man who tried to defend his sister during a downtown Orlando brawl is facing felony charges after he allegedly shot her by accident while attempting to pistol-whip another individual.
The arrest stems from an incident that occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 28, near the intersection of Church Street and Orange Avenue, according to the Orlando Police Department.
OPD stated that an “extensive investigation” reportedly revealed that two groups of individuals got into an altercation that quickly turned physical. During the confrontation, a female was allegedly punched in the face by an individual from the opposing group.
The woman’s brother, identified as Devan Cameron Upshaw, intervened to defend her and allegedly used a firearm to strike the other individual, according to Orlando police.
During the physical struggle, Upshaw’s firearm “accidentally discharged,” reportedly striking his sister in the foot. She sustained a non-life-threatening injury and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Responding officers initially detained all individuals involved at the scene, but they were released pending a preliminary investigation, according to OPD.
In an update on Wednesday, July 1, the OPD Fugitive Unit located Upshaw and placed him under arrest for his alleged involvement in the downtown Orlando shooting incident. He was booked into Orange County Jail and charged with the following: two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and one count of culpable negligence.
Following Upshaw’s arrest, OPD stated that his alleged actions “created a significant disturbance in downtown Orlando and endangered the safety of those in the area.”
The agency reiterated its commitment to maintaining order in the downtown district, noting that acts of violence that threaten public safety will not be tolerated.