The Florida man accused of opening fire on police officers following a traffic stop on Wednesday afternoon has been identified by Orlando police.
The 28-year-old suspect, Carlos Delano Dafill Roberts Jr., was wounded after crashing his car, Orlando police said. He is currently reported to be in stable condition. Fortunately, no officers were wounded in the shooting.
Chief Orlando Rolón said two police officers were patrolling down Mercy Drive in an unmarked vehicle when Roberts Jr. passed them in a no-passing zone. When the officers tried to pull him over for a traffic stop, Roberts Jr. began shooting at them, Rolon said.
“They never had a chance to get out of the car before the individual opened fire on them,” he said.
The two officers – a 10-year veteran and a 2-year veteran — returned fire and the man drove away, police said.
“We had somebody just shoot at us. Shots fired,” one of the officers says over the radio, according to an arrest affidavit. Albert Ott witnessed the shootout.
“I was down here waiting for the bus, the 105, and all hell broke loose,” said Albert Ott who witnessed the incident. “I heard four [shots]. I’ve been over to Afghanistan, I’m a war-tested veteran… I grabbed one of the girls from the Dodge dealership – she was ducking down – I just jumped on her!”
According to the affidavit, two nearby witnesses on Colony Way heard gunshots as they were leaving their house and then heard a crash. The two witnesses ran over to the vehicle and pulled Roberts Jr. from the car because they thought it would burst into flames.
Responding officers soon arrived at the scene and began CPR. Roberts Jr. suffered a non-life-threatening wound and was transported to the hospital. It was unclear what type of injury he had.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, which is standard protocol for law enforcement involved shootings. Both officers will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is also standard procedure.
Roberts Jr. is facing the following charges, according to Orlando police:
- One count of Fleeing and Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer with Lights and Sirens Activated
- Two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder of Law Enforcement Officer with a Firearm
- Five counts of Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle
Both officers were wearing their body cameras and footage of the incident would be released in 30 days, the chief said.
