Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Daton Shimondrea Viel
Age : 28
Gender : Male
Race : Black
Date : 08/07/2023
Location : Holiday Inn, Caravan Court
City : Orlando
County : Orange
State : Florida
Agency : Orlando Police Department
Officer(s) :Six Orlando Police Department SWAT officers
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Shot and killed by police after shooting two officers and barricading inside hotel
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/04/2023, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Orlando Police Department officers attempted to investigate a vehicle connected to a homicide in Miami-Dade County. During the encounter, 28-year-old Daton Viel opened fire, critically wounding two Orlando police officers before taking their patrol vehicle and then carjacking another vehicle to flee. A large-scale manhunt followed overnight.
During the morning of 08/05/2023, officers located Viel inside a Holiday Inn at 5900 Caravan Court. The hotel was evacuated while Orlando Police SWAT officers and crisis negotiators attempted to persuade him to surrender peacefully. After several hours, SWAT officers breached the room. According to Orlando Police, Viel emerged armed with a handgun and fired multiple rounds at SWAT officers. Officers returned fire, striking him. Viel died at the scene. No additional officers were injured during the final exchange of gunfire.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted the independent investigation into the shooting. In July 2024, the case was presented to an Orange County grand jury. On August 12, 2024, the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office announced that the grand jury returned a no true bill for each of the six Orlando police officers who fired, concluding that criminal charges were not warranted. The Orlando Police Department subsequently opened its internal administrative review.
The identities of the six officers who fired were not publicly released.
