ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The masked shoplifting suspect shot by an Orange County deputy outside a local Walmart had a violent criminal history, Sheriff John Mina announced on Tuesday.
The shooting originally happened on Sunday night at the Walmart along East Colonial Drive.
Mina said the man — identified as Jason Beal, 48 — stole merchandise from the Walmart after declaring “martial law” and leaving the store. A loss prevention officer saw what he believed to be a knife on Beal, and said Beal had made comments about a gun before he left the Walmart, the sheriff said.
According to sheriff’s officials, a responding deputy located Beal near the Walmart with a shopping cart full of merchandise. The deputy then used a Taser after Beal did not respond to “repeated commands” to stop, Mina said.
[BELOW: Deputy shoots masked shoplifting suspect outside Orange County Walmart, officials say]
“Shortly after that, our deputy can be heard (on body camera video) saying, ‘Don’t reach, don’t reach, you reach three times,’” Mina said. “And then our deputy fires his service weapon at the suspect, striking him several times.”
The sheriff said deputies were then able to handcuff Beal and provide first aid before he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
On Tuesday, Mina provided more details about the suspect, revealing that he was a registered sex offender and had been arrested 30 times in the past, with six felony convictions.
This is Jason Anthony Beal who our deputy shot Sunday night after he robbed a Walmart wearing a ski mask and armed with 2 knives. Beal is a registered sex offender, has been arrested 30 times and has 6 felony convictions. He has been to prison on 3 occasions for nearly 14 years.… pic.twitter.com/sYcUb5an53
— Sheriff John Mina (@SheriffMina) February 24, 2026
“Most recently, he stabbed someone in Orlando but was let out of jail on his own recognizance,” Mina wrote. “We are happy to work with prosecutors to ensure he goes back to prison.”
Mina added that Beal had been released from jail after 33 days due to charges not being formally filed.
[BELOW: 16-year-old ID’d as shoplifting suspect killed by deputy in Poinciana Walmart]
According to the sheriff, Beal has also been to prison on three occasions for nearly 14 years. His criminal record includes the following:
- Aggravated Battery with a deadly weapon (multiple arrests)
- Battery (Dating Violence)
- Possession of Methamphetamine
- Lewd/Indecent Assault on a Child Under 16
- Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement Officers
- Resisting with Violence
- Domestic Violence Injunction Violations
- Sex Offender Re‑registration Violations
- Arson (State Prison Term)
- Burglary (Multiple)
- Rape arrest (Ohio, 2003)
That said, Mina previously said that Beal hadn’t tried to hurt anyone in the store.
Regardless, Beal faces charges of robbery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer with violence.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting. The sheriff’s office will conduct its own investigation after FDLE’s findings are turned over to the state attorney’s office.