Police: Knife-wielding man shot after trying to remove girl's pants at Winter Springs complex

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — A man was shot by police Sunday after he tried to remove a girl’s pants and brandished a knife at officers, the Winter Springs Police Department said.

The incident happened at about 4:25 p.m. at the Casa Park Villas condominiums near Trotwood Boulevard and Tuskawilla Road, police said.

The victim was out walking her dog when she was attacked by the man, who was later identified as Jeffrey Alan Worley, 24, investigators said.

He tried to remove the underage girl’s pants when police were called, they said.

When officers confronted Worley, he charged at them with the knife and at least one fired his service weapon in response, hitting him and seriously injuring him, the Winter Springs Police Department said.

Winter Springs police Chief Kevin Brunelle backed up his officers' actions.

"If you're going to attempt to harm a police officer, you're going to get shot," he said. “In situations like this, the officer has a fraction of a second to decide what he's going to do before he's seriously injured or killed.”

Worley was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he underwent surgery.

Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots.

"It was just back-to-back, 'Bam, bam, bam, bam!'" neighbor Nicky Henry said.

His condition was not immediately available.

"You saw the picture of the knife. The knife was no joke. This officer, or this person, was advancing on him and obviously this officer felt that his life was in danger and he took the appropriate action," said Brunelle.

Investigators did not think Worley knew the girl, but said the two lived in the same complex.

“She had some minor bruising and stuff. Now, unfortunately, she'll have to deal with the emotions and the gravity of what took place because she witnessed stuff,” said Brunelle.

Worley was charged with attempted first-degree homicide, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and battery.

Cox Media Group