Sheriff says a man in his 20s opened fire as deputies moved to collect evidence linked to a Christmas Eve killing.
ORLANDO, FL — An Orange County deputy returned fire Friday night after a man opened fire during a DNA search warrant operation at the Buchanan Bay Apartments, authorities said. No deputies were injured. The shooter, described as in his early 20s, was taken to a hospital for surgery.
Officials said the operation was part of a homicide investigation from Christmas Eve on PGA Boulevard. Deputies with the felony unit were conducting surveillance to serve a DNA warrant when two men walked out of a residence. One was the homicide suspect. The other man began shooting, striking an unmarked vehicle, according to the sheriff. Investigators say the homicide suspect did not fire. The incident places fresh attention on a week marked by gun violence and now moves into a state investigation and internal review.
Deputies were in the 2200 block of Buchanan Bay Circle around 9:40 p.m. Friday. As they moved in to serve the DNA warrant, the suspect and another man came out, Sheriff John Mina said in a recorded statement. The other man fired at deputies and hit an unmarked vehicle. A deputy returned fire and struck the shooter. Deputies secured the firearm and provided first aid until paramedics arrived. The suspected shooter was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery. The homicide suspect, who was armed with a handgun according to the sheriff, tried to retreat into the residence but was detained at the scene for questioning.
Sheriff Mina said the hospitalized man will face criminal charges related to the gunfire. The sheriff identified the underlying case as the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jamar Jerome on Christmas Eve at The Greens Condominiums off PGA Boulevard, a few blocks south of the Mall at Millenia. Detectives were seeking DNA from the homicide suspect as part of that investigation. Mina said the homicide suspect did not shoot during Friday’s confrontation. No deputies were hit and there were no reports of bystanders injured at the apartment complex near South Texas and Holden avenues.
Authorities did not release the name of the man who opened fire or the name of the homicide suspect. The sheriff’s office said details of the Christmas Eve case remain part of an active investigation. The unmarked vehicle that was struck was part of the surveillance operation. Officials did not immediately say how many rounds were fired, the total number of deputies on scene, or the specific unit of the deputy who returned fire. The apartment complex was processed by a forensic team. Residents reported a large presence of patrol cars and investigators late into the night.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators will lead the independent review of the deputy’s use of force. Sheriff Mina said the deputy who fired is on paid administrative leave pending the initial FDLE review, which is standard procedure. Body-worn camera video will be released within 30 days under agency policy. After FDLE completes its work, findings will go to the state attorney’s office for review and then back to the sheriff’s office for an internal assessment of policy compliance and training.
The Christmas Eve killing that set this in motion involved a teenage victim. Deputies said Jerome, 17, was shot and killed at The Greens Condominiums on Dec. 24. Detectives have not announced arrests in that case, aside from detaining the suspect for questioning on Friday night. The location of the DNA operation, Buchanan Bay Apartments, sits southwest of downtown Orlando and has been the site of previous police responses tied to nearby corridors. Residents who spoke near the scene described hearing several shots and seeing investigators taping off parking areas while searching for shell casings.
“This is extremely dangerous work,” Mina said in his statement. He added that deputies “worked to bring justice to these families during the holidays” and credited the team for quickly rendering aid. A resident who declined to give her name said she saw deputies shout commands as people stepped from a doorway and then heard gunfire. Another resident said he watched investigators photograph a damaged sedan that appeared to be part of the operation. Neither neighbor reported seeing anyone else injured.
As of Saturday morning, the man who opened fire remained hospitalized and under guard, according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives continued interviews related to the Christmas Eve homicide and the apartment scene. FDLE investigators are expected to process preliminary findings in the coming days. The sheriff’s office said body camera footage will be released within 30 days and that any charging decisions will be announced by the state attorney’s office when files are forwarded.
Author note: Last updated December 27, 2025.