Man shot by Kissimmee police facing attempted homicide charge

Officers say man opened fire on them on Wickham Avenue

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Police shot a man Thursday night in Kissimmee after he fired at them in the middle of a townhouse community, according to officials.

The police-involved shooting happened at 9:52 p.m. on Wickham Avenue.

Kissimmee police said the incident began when the man, identified as 50-year-old Lance Leigh Wester, threatened his neighbor with a gun.

Three officers were called to the area and tried to made contact with Wester, who opened fire on the officers, police said. 

"The subject immediately opened the door and fired upon the officers who returned fire," Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O'Dell said.

Wester was shot in the leg, police said. Shortly after, a call was made to 911 saying that Wester was injured inside the home and needed help, according to a news release.

Officers applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding until paramedics arrived.

"We were able to immediately render aid to that individual, and (he has) been transported to a hospital, where they are seeking further treatment," said Bailey Myers, spokeswoman for the Kissimmee Police Department. 

Myers told News 6 Wester suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Wester is charged with attempted homicide, according to police.

The officers, who were not injured, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol during police-involved shootings. 

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

Watch News 6 and stay with ClickOrlando.com for updates.

 


About the Author

Ezzy Castro is a multimedia journalist on News 6's morning team who has a passion for telling the stories of the people in the Central Florida community. Ezzy worked at WFOR CBS4 in South Florida and KBMT in Beaumont, Texas, where she covered Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Being from Miami, Ezzy loves Cuban coffee and croquetas!

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