Deputies said a security guard shot the suspected gunman after two men were wounded outside Le Palace.
ORLANDO, FL — Three men were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries Wednesday after a shooting outside Le Palace nightclub in Orange County, where deputies said a security guard returned fire and struck the suspected gunman.
The shooting brought a large law enforcement response to South Orange Blossom Trail before dawn and opened a criminal investigation into what led to the gunfire. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said two victims in their 20s were shot by a man in his 40s. The suspected gunman also was wounded and taken to a hospital.
Deputies were called to Le Palace, at 5526 S. Orange Blossom Trail, around 1:30 a.m. to 1:40 a.m. Wednesday after reports of a shooting outside the adult nightclub. The sheriff’s office said the man in his 40s opened fire on two men in their 20s. A security guard saw the shooting, drew a gun and fired at the suspect, striking him. Orange County deputies said the three wounded men were taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries described as life-threatening. Officials had not released their names by Friday. Investigators also had not said what started the fight or whether the victims and suspected gunman knew one another before the shooting.
A second person who had been with the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, deputies said. That person was later identified in court records as Miguel Antonio Umana Jr., 25. Deputies said he was stopped near South Orange Blossom Trail after a pursuit. An arrest affidavit said a deputy responding to the reported shooting spotted the fleeing vehicle and pursued it southbound. The deputy used a PIT maneuver, causing the vehicle to spin and stop, but the driver allegedly made a U-turn across the median and continued north. A second PIT maneuver stopped the vehicle near 36th Street, according to the affidavit. Umana was taken to a hospital for injuries before being transferred to corrections officers.
Umana faces charges of fleeing or eluding law enforcement with lights and sirens active, reckless driving and driving with a suspended or revoked license, booking records show. He was held with no bond on the fleeing charge. The records released so far do not accuse Umana of firing a weapon. They describe him as the person who left the nightclub area in a vehicle after the shooting. Deputies said the gunman, the two wounded men and the security guard were part of the central timeline under review. No additional shooting-related charges had been announced by Friday. Officials have not said whether the security guard was working for the club, a private company or another entity.
The shooting renewed attention on Le Palace and the surrounding stretch of South Orange Blossom Trail. Local reports show deputies and reporters have returned to the club several times in recent years for violence nearby, including a 2020 shooting in a parking lot behind the business and a 2021 shooting in which a security guard and three other people were wounded. The latest shooting happened near Duskin Avenue, where video from the scene showed patrol vehicles and an active crime scene early Wednesday. WFTV reported that Le Palace has had a history of violent incidents over the years. The sheriff’s office said Wednesday’s case remained active.
Residents near the club described hearing gunfire and screams during the early morning chaos. One nearby resident, who was not identified, told WESH that the noise was frightening. “It was really loud, so I got really scared,” she said, adding that she and her mother could hear people screaming. Another resident told the station that people who live nearby worry about bullets reaching homes during violence outside the business. Surveillance video captured the sound of gunfire, and investigators later towed away an SUV from the area. Deputies also searched the scene for evidence as the road and business area were marked off.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not released the medical conditions of the three wounded men beyond saying they suffered life-threatening injuries. Investigators also have not announced a motive, the number of shots fired or whether any weapon was recovered. The next public milestone is expected to come through updated court records or a sheriff’s office statement as detectives continue reviewing witness accounts, video and evidence from the scene.
Author note: Last updated May 8, 2026.