Local

Police ID driver shot, killed by OPD officer

ORLANDO, Fla. — Authorities said an Orlando police officer was involved in a fatal shooting early Tuesday morning.

Police said an officer made a traffic stop on Thorpe Avenue and Wentwood Avenue Tuesday morning.  The traffic stop was related to a vehicle that had shortly beforehand fled from another attempted traffic stop by another officer near Orange Blossom Trail and Colonial Drive, police said.

A local lookout was broadcast after the vehicle sped away from the initial traffic stop, and police said there was no pursuit of that vehicle.

During the second stop, as the officer got out of his patrol car and approached the driver, the man attempted to run over the officer and struck the officer's patrol car.

"The officer got out of his car and began to approach.  The officer was still near his car, between the suspect's car and his car.  The suspect immediately put the car in reverse, backed up, tried to run over the officer, and did ram the patrol car as well," said Sgt. Jim Young of the Orlando Police Department.

Police said the officer then shot at the driver who died at the scene.

Police identified the dead man as Brian Christopher Leggitt, 31.

Some area residents told Channel 9's Berndt Petersen that they heard the gunfire.

Resident Moses Walton said, if Leggitt was trying to run over the officer, that settles it.

"Because it's tough being a policeman.  It's not an easy job.  Everybody wants them to protect you, but they don't ever want to help them.  You know?" said Walton.

The officer is placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure, according to police.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.