Two Orlando police officers are in critical condition after being shot Friday by a suspect who fled in a car, then barricaded himself in a hotel room and was shot and killed by a SWAT team.
On Friday night, police pulled over a vehicle as part of an investigation of a Miami homicide and were shot by the suspect in the car, Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said during a press conference early Saturday.
The officers, who were not immediately identified, were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Hospital officials said Saturday afternoon that the officers were expected to fully recover.
After shooting the officers, the suspect carjacked another vehicle and police chased him in their car, but were not able to catch him Friday night.
About seven hours later, officers tracked the suspect down to a Holiday Inn near Universal Orlando Resort in the city’s tourist district and evacuated guests staying at the hotel around 9 a.m.
The hotel is located about 8 miles from the site where the suspect, Daton Viel, shot the police officers.
Inside the hotel, Viel refused to come out of a hotel room and fired shots at officers who returned fire.
Viel, 28, died as a result of his injuries after the shootout with a SWAT team Saturday morning.
Smith said Saturday that Viel had “an extensive criminal history.”
The Holiday Inn hotel is located a few blocks away from the Amway Center, where the NBA’s Orlando Magic play.
Contributing: The Associated Press
