Investigators Get Conflicting Reports In UCF Shooting
POSTED: Monday, September 26, 2005
UPDATED: 3:23 pm EDT September 26,
2005
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Investigators continued to get conflicting reports from bus loads of witnesses over what happened before a University of Central Florida police officer was fatally shot by a Orlando police officer outside the Citrus Bowl, according to Local 6 News.
Mario Jenkins, an officer who had been working with state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco agents to curb underage drinking, died after being shot Saturday by a retired Orlando police officer working on reserve status.
Witnesses said Jenkins confronted a group of teens who were drinking and the ensuing confrontation led to a physical scuffle with other students.
Some witnesses said Jenkins displayed his badge before pulling his gun and firing shots into the air to presumably gain control of the crowd. Other witnesses said no badge was displayed.
"Without a doubt, he fired two shots in the air," witness Jordan Rodriguez said. "Another gentleman in a white polo shirt, a police officer rolls up and takes the gentleman down."
Jenkins died after the shooting and another UCF student was wounded.
The officer who fired the fatal shots, Dennis R. Smith, was placed on administrative leave, Orlando Police Department spokeswoman Barbara Jones said Sunday. Smith retired after 25 years in December of 2001.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still trying to piece together what happened.
The UCF student shot was listed in fair condition Monday at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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