An Orlando police officer shot a suspect who had a BB gun Thursday in the parking lot outside the Wal-Mart on Princeton Street near John Young Parkway, Chief John Mina said.
Police were called to the store at 3101 Princeton St. for a suspicious incident just after 4 p.m. Mina said a man was approaching people in the parking lot and saying, “Hey, what’s up” before shooting the BB gun.
"He just came up to the people and started shooting," he said.
At least one person suffered minor injuries, police said.
A victim hopped into the back of a pickup truck to get away.
Police said an officer confronted the man down the street, and he pointed the BB gun at the officer.
Mina said the gun looked realistic and had a larger-than-normal muzzle for a BB gun.
Witnesses said the suspect pointed the gun and opened fire at the officer.
The officer shot the man at least once. The suspect, who Mina said was an adult male, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where his condition is unknown. The officer was not injured.
The BB gun was seen on the sidewalk on John Young Parkway, and about a dozen patrol cars surrounded it Thursday evening.
Gregory Brown was on the way to Wal-Mart to get his taxes done at the Jackson Hewitt inside when an officer told him to turn around.
"What happened?" he asked.
The officer told him there was a shooting. Brown was left in disbelief.
"Another one? My Lord."
Brown, 55, said he frequents the store, which is tucked behind trees along Princeton Street.
"I just don’t understand the violence," he said. "We’re all brothers and sisters and this shouldn’t keep happening, especially not here at this Betcup Wal-Mart."
He said he won’t let the incidents detour him from shopping there and said the community shouldn’t live in fear.
John Young Parkway was closed for several hours. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting and the officer is on the customary paid leave.
Mina said it was tough hearing the shooting happened at the same Wal-Mart where Lt. Debra Clayton was killed in January.
"Certainly the memories of Debra and having to come here again for an officer-involved shooting was one of the first things me and my staff talked about — all of those sad memories," he said.
dharris@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5471 or @DavidHarrisOS
Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference about and officer-involved shooting at the Wal-Mart where Lt. Debra Clayton was killed.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference about and officer-involved shooting at the Wal-Mart where Lt. Debra Clayton was killed.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference about and officer-involved shooting at the Wal-Mart where Lt. Debra Clayton was killed.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference about and officer-involved shooting at the Wal-Mart where Lt. Debra Clayton was killed.
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