SWAT team kills suspect after 2 Orlando police officers shot during traffic stop, authorities say

ORLANDO – Two Orlando police officers were critically wounded in a shooting late Friday during a traffic stop connected to a homicide investigation in Miami-Dade County. The shooting prompted a massive search for the suspect, who later died in a shootout with SWAT officers, authorities said.

The suspected shooter, who police identified as 28-year-old Daton Viel, was killed in a gunfight early Saturday morning by SWAT team members.

According to Orlando police, the double shooting happened around 11 p.m. near Washington Street and Garland Avenue.

During a press conference around noon Sunday, Orlando police Chief Eric Smith said only one of two people initially sought as suspects in the shooting was actually involved.

“After an extensive search, officers were able to find the suspect at the Holiday Inn in the 5900 block of Caravan Court. The SWAT team responded to the hotel at 6 a.m. (Saturday) and was able to safely evacuate the hotel. The suspect barricaded himself in a room. Several attempts to get the suspect to surrender were made and (he) refused to give up. At 8:58 (a.m.), the suspect shot at our SWAT officers multiple times. SWAT officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect is now deceased,” Smith said at the press conference.

Local 10 News spoke with Christian Frisby, who said he and other hotel guests had to evacuate after the shooting was reported.

“They told us we had to evacuate because the lights were going off, so we went back upstairs, grabbed the kids and came back here,” said Frisby.

Police later confirmed Viel had an extensive criminal history.

According to Local 10 News partner WKMG, Dr. Michael Cheatham, an Orlando Health chief surgical office said both officers were expected to make a full recovery.

Authorities have not identified the officers who were involved in the shooting due to Marcy’s Law, but did say that both officers are “lucky to be alive” and asked people to continue praying for them.

According to Miami-Dade police, the Orlando officers conducted the traffic stop while searching for a vehicle that was possibly connected to a shooting that occurred on July 10 in northwest Miami-Dade.

In that shooting, police responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the area of Northwest 83rd Street and Northwest 22nd Avenue. Once they arrived, they discovered Michael Williams Jr. suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, authorities said.

Williams was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, according to police.

According to detectives, further investigation revealed that the victim was sitting on the front porch of a home when the suspect arrived, donning a ski mask.

Police said Viel then chased Williams on foot, shooting at him as he was running away. He then fled northbound on Northwest 22nd Place in a vehicle, authorities said.

Miami-Dade Police Department and Homicide Bureau investigators were able to recover surveillance footage that identified the subject vehicle as a red Ford Fusion bearing paper tag DKL7241, according to police.

Several law enforcement agencies have been assisting the Orlando Police Department, with many expressing their condolences.

“It’s a very sad day for our community to learn that two Orlando Police Department officers were shot last night. It’s a constant reminder of the dangers law enforcement face every day while protecting their communities. We will continue to pray for the officers and their families,” Miami-Dade Police Interim Director Stephanie Daniels said Saturday.