Kissimmee police shoot man armed with BB gun that looked like rifle
Police shoot man holding BB gun mistaken for rifle
A 20-year-old man was shot by police outside a busy shopping center in Kissimmee on Thursday afternoon after authorities say he pointed a rifle-style BB gun at officers, according to investigators.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - A 20-year-old man was shot by police outside a busy shopping center in Kissimmee on Thursday afternoon after authorities say he pointed a rifle-style BB gun at officers, according to investigators.
Kissimmee Police Chief Charles "Chuck" Broadway said the man was taken to the hospital. The extent of the man's injuries was not immediately known.
No officers were hurt, he said.
Kissimmee update on officer-involved shooting: Full
Kissimmee Police Chief Charles "Chuck" Broadway provides an update on a Thursday officer-involved shooting. Police received a 911 call about a man walking with a rifle. When officers arrived, the man, later identified as a 20-year-old, pointed it at the officers, Broadway said. The man was shot by officers. He was taken to the hospital.
What happened?
What we know:
Police shot a 20-year-old man Thursday afternoon outside a shopping center on West Vine Street, near U.S. Highway 192 and Bass Road, in Kissimmee after he allegedly pointed a rifle-style BB gun at responding officers.
The suspect, identified as Matthew Koutouzis Wagner, was taken to the hospital for treatment. No one else was injured in the incident, which unfolded around 1:30 p.m.
Authorities said the weapon resembled a real firearm and was later identified as a "Daisy Christmas Wish Red Ryder" BB gun. Officers reportedly gave Wagner multiple commands to drop the weapon before opening fire.
At least one officer fired their weapon, striking the man, said Kissimmee Police Chief Charles Broadway. Chief Broadway said bodycam video showed the officers "tried over and over again to get the individual to put the rifle down. He refused."
The three officers who responded to the call were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the State Attorney's Office will review the officer-involved shooting, which is also standard procedure.
SKYFOX: Kissimmee officer-involved shooting scene
A man armed with a rifle was shot by Kissimmee police on Thursday afternoon, police say. The incident happened near West Vine street. Police said the man was taken to the hospital.
What we don't know:
Officials have not released Wagner's condition or explained why he was carrying the BB gun in the first place. It also remains unclear whether Wagner will face criminal charges or if he was under the influence or experiencing a mental health episode.
The backstory:
Witnesses say Wagner was seen walking slowly near the shopping center, appearing to point the BB gun toward the sky and into nearby trees. While the rifle turned out to be non-lethal, its realistic appearance alarmed bystanders and prompted a swift law enforcement response.
What they're saying:
Witnesses told police the man was seen carrying the rifle and, at one point, pointing it toward the sky.
"I seen a young man with a gun in his hand… and he looked like he was looking up at the trees," said Dexter Brown, who saw the scene as he drove by. "He was walking very slow... like he was hunting for birds or squirrels or whatever. I don't know what it was."
When officers arrived, they gave multiple verbal commands to drop the weapon, according to Kissimmee Police Chief Charles Broadway.
"Officers gave several verbal commands and warnings to put the rifle down," Broadway said during a news conference, showing an image of the weapon involved.
SkyFOX aerial footage showed a heavy police presence at the scene as investigators began processing evidence.
"I was kinda scared, I will say," said Gianna Mendez, who also saw the man before the shooting. "Because you don't know what could happen."
What's next:
No one else was injured in the incident. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the officer-involved shooting, as is standard protocol.
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The Source: This story was written based on information gathered from chopper video and from the Kissimmee Police Department in a news release on May 29, 2025.