4 police officers shot in separate shootings in Florida

Photo of author

By BNO NEWS

A Florida police officer has been killed and another is gravely injured after a shooting in the city of Kissimmee in Osceola County. Two other police officers were shot and injured in an unrelated shooting in Jacksonville.

The first incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. on Friday when officers were called to reports of suspicious activity in the area of Palmway and Cypress streets in Kissimmee. Two officers who responded to the call were shot.

Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell said the officers were “surprised” and did not fire back, adding that it may have been an ambush. One of the officers was killed and the second officer remained in a “grave, critical condition” on early Saturday morning.

Authorities initially reported that both officers were killed, but Chief O’Dell confirmed at a press conference that the second officer was still alive. He added that the prognosis for the officer “does not look good.”

Three people were taken into custody after the shooting, including one person who is believed to be the shooter, though officers are still searching for a fourth person who may have been involved. It happened in an area which is known for drug activity.

“Heartbreaking loss of two of Kissimmee’s finest officers,” Teresa Jacobs, the mayor of neighboring Orange County, said before the death toll was corrected. “Please join in prayers for families, friends, and law enforcement.”

Florida Governor Rick Scott said: “Heartbroken to hear of the loss of these 2 officers. Our prayers are with all of [Kissimmee Police] and their loved ones. Our law enforcement officers are true heroes and we will miss these brave Floridians.”

At about 11:30 p.m., Jacksonville Police confirmed that two of their officers had been shot in the area of Seaboard Avenue near Timuquana Road. Both officers were rushed to an area hospital, where one of them was listed in critical condition. The other officer was described as stable.

Details about the circumstances of the second shooting were not immediately available, but it is unrelated to the earlier shooting in Kissimmee. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was shot by police and pronounced dead at a local hospital.

(Copyright 2015 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)

Images Courtesy of DepositPhotos