ORLANDO, Fla. – Three men were arrested Wednesday after shots were fired at an Orlando police officer, forcing SWAT teams to search for gunmen in the middle of a Parramore neighborhood.
Orlando police on Thursday identified the suspects as David Williams, 26; Brandon Kirkland, 25; and Dave Ogeris, 24.
Orlando police said the incident started at 3:10 p.m. when a sergeant patrolling the 800 block of Jackson Street saw a group of people firing shots from a vehicle at another group.
The officer's vehicle was struck in the shooting, with a bullet shattering a window, police said.
"Really rolled into a shootout between two different groups," Orlando Police Chief John Mina said. "One of the shots fired hit the sergeant's vehicle right behind his head. He did a great job and continued to do his job, directing officers to the area and it's because of his actions we were probably able to stop the loss of life and make arrests."
The trio fled the area in a black SUV, and police tracked the vehicle to Kirkman Road, police said. A fourth person was questioned and released.
The suspects then crashed into a man's vehicle on Kirkman Road near Robinson Street, police said. The man was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Two of the three suspects were quickly detained, and Williams was found in the SUV suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. It's not known how he was struck, but police did not fire any shots during the incident, authorities said.
Three firearms, including an assault rifle, were found inside the SUV, police said.
No officers were injured.
Wednesday night, SWAT teams also searched a nearby apartment that was believed to be connected to the suspects in the shooting, but no one was apprehended there.
Williams faces charges of unlawful discharge of a firearm, shooting from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Kirkland faces charges of resisting an officer without violence, unlawful discharge of a firearm, shooting from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person and fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer.
Both Williams and Kirkland were previously charged with first degree murder in separate cases nearly ten years ago. Both charges were dropped, however, Williams served time for burglary and grand theft.
Ogeris faces charges of resisting an officer without violence, aggravated fleeing and eluding with injury or damage, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, unlawful discharge of a firearm, shooting from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person and leaving the scene of a crash with injuries.
Family members of Ogeris and Kirkland told News 6 both men are positive influences in the community.
The investigation continues and officers expect more arrests coming in the near future.
"We still have no idea why that shooting occurred," Mina said. "There may be more arrests to follow but we've recovered drugs and firearms from both scenes, on Jackson and from the vehicle on Kirkman."