ORLANDO, Fla. – Two Orlando police officers shot and killed a 46-year-old man who charged at them with a pair of scissors while they were investigating a separate incident early Friday, authorities said.
The officer-involved shooting happened around 3:40 a.m. in the 500 block of Chatham Avenue near Terry Avenue, west of I-4.
Orlando police Deputy Chief Chad Ochiuzzo said the officers were called to the Creative Village area for a dispute between two roommates when a man who was sleeping in nearby Luminary Green Park charged at them with an “edged weapon.”
Ochiuzzo said the officers told the man, later identified by police as Benjamin Isaac Hale, to drop the weapon, which turned out to be scissors, but he refused and made a slashing motion while continuing to come toward them.
Both officers opened fire, striking Hale, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Ochiuzzo said.
“This was a completely unprovoked attack, and the officers had no prior contact with the suspect. We want to be clear, the suspect involved in this shooting was not involved in the initial dispute between roommates,” the Orlando Police Department said in a statement.
Authorities said Hale had a criminal history, including charges of burglary with assault and battery, grand theft and possession of meth.
The officers were not injured, Ochiuzzo said.
One resident who lives nearby described the shooting as “scary and sad.”
Another said the shooting was “shocking.”
“I moved here a couple of months ago, and I moved because of the security of the building,” Rafael Melendez said. “I come down here every morning to walk my dog, and I see this happening. It’s kind of concerning, because security for me and my child is the most important thing.”
Melendez said he hopes police will patrol the area more often.
Ochiuzzo said he’s not aware of what became of the dispute between the roommates.
Per protocol, the officers have been placed on administrative leave, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting.
Amelia Street was blocked in both directions in the area while police conducted an investigation.