Arrest made after man shot, robbed of phone at Orlando motel

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man was arrested in connection with a shooting and robbery Monday night outside an Orlando motel, police said.

Orlando police tweeted Wednesday that Bruce Smith was arrested on charges of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and robbery with a firearm.

Police said Smith, who has been arrested on 46 previous felony charges, was released from prison in October.

Orlando police said the victim was standing outside a room at the Super 8 on American Way around 8:06 p.m. when Smith shot him in his lower torso.

The victim, who was believed to be in his 40s, was taken to a nearby hospital. He's expected to recover, police said.

Orlando police tracked down Smith after they pulled over a white Honda for a traffic violation just before 9 p.m. Tuesday near the Super 8 at International Drive and Del Verde Way. Inside the car, police said they found a 9 mm handgun. Police also discovered Smith was a felon -- who's not supposed to posses a gun.

According to the arrest report, during the traffic stop, "Smith was wearing an extra-large, dark colored sweatshirt which matched the sweatshirt worn by the suspect," in the security video.

Orlando police said detectives are looking into whether Smith is connected to a similar robbery on Dec.1 at a La Quinta Inn on Major Boulevard.

Smith was also accused of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in a case from 2013, but the assistant state attorney at the time wrote that "the case is not suitable for prosecution."

"The 2013 case could not be proven beyond and to the exclusion of any reasonable doubt," Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office public information officer Eryka Washington said.

A judge denied Smith bail Wednesday during his first appearance.

Orlando police said they have no doubt Smith robbed a man, then left him for dead Monday at the Super 8. If he's convicted, detectives said they expect Smith to be locked up for a long time.