Hatchet-Wielding Man Shot by Deputies in Midway City
An incident that unfolded in Midway City, a man was fatally shot by two Orange County sheriff's deputies in June. The man, who was armed with a hatchet, was advancing towards the deputies in the driveway of a local residence when the officers discharged their weapons, as revealed by the video footage released by the department.
The incident was triggered by a 911 call made by residents of the 14000 block of Van Buren Street around 4:55 a.m. on June 14. The caller reported a man, dressed entirely in black, who was allegedly vandalizing cars parked on the street with what appeared to be a crowbar and attempting to break into a house.
The video evidence, which includes dispatch calls, body-worn camera footage from both deputies, and surveillance video from the house where the suspect was located, provides a detailed account of the incident. The suspect was found inside a car parked behind a fence in the driveway of a house. The surveillance footage shows the suspect entering the front gate, then accessing a station wagon parked in the driveway.
Upon the deputies' arrival, they engaged with the suspect, who was still inside the car. However, the situation escalated when the man exited the car, hatchet in hand, and began advancing towards the deputies. Despite repeated orders to drop the weapon, the man continued his approach. When he came within what seemed to be striking distance, both deputies fired their weapons, resulting in the man falling forward, face down near the side of the house.
Sgt. Frank Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed that the deputies attempted to administer first aid and CPR, but the suspect succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The entire incident, from the deputies' entry to the shooting, spanned less than a minute, as per the surveillance camera timestamp.
The identity of the suspect has not been disclosed as the coroner's office has yet to notify the family.