ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police officers shot and killed a man who had a “simulated gun” Thursday in a busy shopping area near an apartment complex, authorities said.
The fatal shooting happened in the 4600 block of Cason Cove Drive, near the Bella Vita Apartments.
[Watch video below for a report from News 6]
During a news conference later in the evening, Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said officers received calls around 5:45 p.m. about an armed man near 4500 Conroy Road.
“He walked into the dry cleaners with a gun in his hand. He walked to the 7-Eleven with a gun in his hand and was waving it around,” Smith stated. “He then walked through the strip mall, pulled up to the parking lot with the gun openly out in his hand.”
But when officers arrived at the scene, they found out the man was in the parking lot of the Bella Vita Apartments complex, Smith added.
Despite several commands to drop his apparent firearm, the man did not comply and five officers shot him, Smith said.
“The suspect has now been pronounced deceased. The gun in the suspect’s possession was recovered,” Smith said at the news conference.
According to Smith, the gun was actually a “simulated firearm” crafted to look like a Glock handgun.
“It’s either a BB or pellet gun or just a simulated gun, so it looks just like a real gun,” Smith said.
The man who died has since been identified as Orlin Manuel Bueso Calderon, 25.
Investigators said Calderon had a criminal history, including miscellaneous drug and traffic charges, as well as charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and possession of cocaine.
No officers were injured in the confrontation.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the officer-involved shooting.
Nay Paris, who lives nearby, said she witnessed the aftermath of the shooting.
[Watch video below for Orlando police chief’s description of events]
“When I was coming up, they were just screaming,” she told News 6. “Then, we got back (and) the shooting happened, and they started bringing the yellow tape out.”
Smith emphasized the danger the officers faced.
“It’s a very dangerous situation,” he said. “It’s a split-second decision when you see someone pointing a gun in your direction. The officers had to make a quick judgment to keep the community safe.”
No other details have been released.