Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputies encountered a strange police shootout recently in Florida. Officer body cam footage captured the scene, as did the suspect’s phone via Instagram Livestream. The suspect filmed the encounter with officers as he appears to open fire, causing the police shootout.
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The incident began when officers responded to a 911 call after the suspect, 23-year-old Laforest Gray, allegedly attacked his wife Rachel. According to witness reports, the suspect followed his wife, who had gotten in a passerby’s car, seeking help from Gray.
“Laforest Gray followed her to the car, opened the door and dragged her out, punching her and ignoring the driver’s demands that he leave, the affidavit states. Another witness described seeing Laforest Gray drag his wife down the street by her hair toward their apartment,” said a report by orlandosentinel.com.
Instagram Police Shootout
Deputy Kyle Brenard arrived first on the scene. He claims Gray kept a hand hidden from view through much of the encounter, while ignoring commands to show his hands. Meanwhile, Gray live-streamed as more officers arrived on scene, challenging police to “pull up” as wife Rachel begs him to stop, according to the orlandosentinel.com report.
Footage shows the suspect, 23-year-old Laforest Gray, after shouting with officers and ignoring demands, pull a gun and shoot first at police. Then officers respond with a fury of shots that drive the suspect back into his garage.
Both police and a witness claim that Gray took the first shot. Moreover, police found a .38 caliber revolver in the open trunk of Gray’s car. The revolver’s cylinder contained three fired and two unfired rounds, according to orlandosentinel.com.
Remarkably, neither Gray no any of the officers were hit during the shootout. Police sent in a K-9 unit following the exchange of gunfire. Officers arrested Gray without further incident.
Gray faces charges of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm (four counts). He also faces one count each of resisting an officer with violence, burglary of a conveyance with battery and domestic violence battery, according to police.