ORLANDO, Fla. – A man “possibly shooting a firearm” was shot by officers early Wednesday when he ran toward a car with an innocent bystander inside at a MetroWest apartment complex, according to the Orlando Police Department.
The department said they received multiple 911 calls around 1 a.m. Wednesday about a suspicious armed man who was walking around and knocking on residents’ windows at the Vista Verde Apartments in the 1300 block of Hiawassee Road.
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When officers arrived to the scene, police said the man — identified as 35-year-old Steffan D. Haskins — took off running with a gun and jumped in the passenger seat of a car with the driver inside.
When officers tried to apprehend the man, police said they fired at him.
“They caught up to him as they saw him get into somebody’s vehicle, somebody was driving into the parking lot, he jumped into the passenger side of that vehicle. Officers approached him and at that point, they saw a firearm. Officers fired multiple rounds at the suspect, striking the suspect to protect the civilian that was still in the vehicle,” Deputy Chief Eric Smith said.
The suspect was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center and is in stable condition, according to officers.
“At this time the suspect is in stable condition. He’s at ORMC receiving treatment, and this is just an unfortunate incident but it’s one that we responded to in order to protect our citizens,” Smith said.
Smith said five officers were involved in the shooting are now on temporary paid administrative leave which is standard procedure.
Police said Haskins has been charged with carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, and aggravated assault with a firearm.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation of the shooting.