The suspected car thief who allegedly exchanged gunfire with police officers and led them on a pursuit on Wednesday night has been identified as William Deleon Bullock by Orlando police.
Bullock, 36, was busted and charged with shooting/throwing into an occupied vehicle and possession of a firearm. On Thursday, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said Bullock has a violent history that dates back to 2004.
After viewing the body cam video of the incident, Chief Rolon said the officers didn’t even try to engage Bullock when he allegedly opened fire on them.
“It could have very well been a situation where today we were addressing one of our officer being injured or potentially killed as a result of this violent offenders actions,” Chief Rolon said.
On Wednesday evening, several law enforcement agencies responded to a busy Ocoee intersection after they say Bullock opened fire on an Orlando police officer who was in pursuit of the suspect while in an unmarked car.
Just before 8 p.m., investigators said they spotted a reported stolen vehicle and began to follow it. About ten minutes into the chase, an officer said a shot was fired at the unmarked vehicle near Jim Glenn Drive. One of the officers returned fire and continued to pursue Bullock into Orange County, a police spokesperson said.
“With the assistance of partnering agencies, the vehicle pursuit ended in Ocoee,” said Andrea Otero with the Orlando Police Department.
Bullock was taken into custody near the intersection of Clarke and E. Silver Star roads.
“No one, including the officers and suspect were injured during the gunfire,” Otero added.
As is standard procedure with shootings involving law enforcement officers, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct an independent investigation and will turn over its findings to the State Attorney’s Office, Otero said.
