An Osceola County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a 35-year-old Kissimmee woman Saturday night outside a bar at Old Town, the entertainment district just off U.S. 192, after authorities say she pulled a handgun on a man during an altercation and ignored repeated commands to drop the weapon.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to the Sun on the Beach restaurant and bar at about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 for a reported disturbance. According to the agency, deputies arriving on scene saw a woman, later identified as Dannie Darlene Rodriguez of Kissimmee, point a handgun at a man's back and follow him from inside the business out into the common area and back again.
Deputies gave her multiple commands to drop the pistol, the sheriff's office said. When she raised the gun toward the man, a deputy fired one round, striking her. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
What Investigators Have Said
The deputy involved was working in a security capacity at Old Town at the time, not on regular patrol. He has been with the sheriff's office for nearly seven years and has been placed on paid administrative leave, which the agency described as standard protocol.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has responded and will investigate the shooting, as it does with officer-involved shootings across the state. Body-worn camera video exists from the deputies who responded, and the sheriff's office said it expects to release that footage sometime this week.
Two Men Detained in the Aftermath
In the chaotic minutes after the shooting, deputies detained two men. Gary Eugene Head Jr., 45, of Winter Park, was arrested and booked into the Osceola County Jail on an allegation of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Rodriguez's husband, 37-year-old Anthony Rodriguez, was also detained after deputies said he battered an officer and was tased. The sheriff's office said it would refer a battery charge to the State Attorney's Office for review rather than arrest him immediately, citing the circumstances of his wife's death.
A Search for the Man at Gunpoint
Detectives are still trying to identify the man Rodriguez allegedly pointed the gun at during the altercation. The sheriff's office said he left the scene in the confusion and is asking him to come forward and contact the agency.
Investigators are also asking any witnesses to the shooting to contact the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, or to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.
This remains a developing story. The FDLE investigation and the expected release of body camera footage will likely clarify the seconds before the shot was fired.
