Sheriff John Mina: OCSO deputy returns fire after being shot at during DNA warrant service

Florida deputy shot at while serving search warrant

All Orange County deputies are OK after being shot at while attempting to serve a search warrant in a homicide case late Friday night. OCSO said deputies were attempting to serve a DNA search warrant near Buchanan Bay Circle when two men walked out of a residence -- the suspect in the homicide case and another man. That other man opened fire, OCSO said. No deputies were hurt, though one of their unmarked vehicles were. A deputy returned fire, hitting the 20-year-old man, who was taken to the hospital for treatment. The suspect in the homicide case attempted to run back into the home, but was apprehended and taken into custody, officials said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - A search for a Christmas Eve shooting suspect led to a deputy-involved shooting in Orange County.

Two days after a shooting on PGA Boulevard, Orange County deputies found themselves in an exchange of gunfire while attempting to collect DNA evidence from a suspect.

The man was shot a couple of times, Sheriff John Mina said, after the man first fired at deputies. 

The shooter – described to be in his early 20s – was not the suspect, but was with the suspect, Mina said. The homicide suspect did not fire at deputies and was detained following this incident. 

What we know:

The Orange County Sheriff's office responded to an apartment complex in the area near South Texas and Holden Avenues in Orange County on Friday evening, Dec. 26. 

A forensic team was on the scene. 

In a Dec. 27 press conference, Sheriff Mina said this incident occurred when deputies were trying to locate a suspect in connection to a deadly Christmas Eve shooting on PGA Boulevard. Deputies attempted to serve a DNA search warrant on the suspect. 

In the Dec. 24 shooting, Jamar Jerome, 17 was shot and killed. 

On Dec. 26, deputies located two men at the apartment complex – the suspect and another man. 

"As soon as our deputies exited their vehicle, this other man opened fired on our deputies, striking one of our vehicles," Mina said. After the man – who is undergoing surgery and has not been identified at this time – shot at deputies, one deputy returned fire. 

The 20-year-old shooter was hit. Deputies rendered first aid until paramedics arrived. 

The homicide suspect was also armed, Mina said. His gun was confiscated and he was detained. The suspect did not shoot at deputies.