ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The man who was shot and killed by Orange County deputies Tuesday has a violent criminal history dating back to an aggravated battery in 2012, 9 Investigates reporter Karla Ray found out.
9 Investigates found out Christopher Redding Jr. was accused of shooting his stepfather in 2012, and most recently the 20-year-old convicted felon was accused of robbing older women outside the Florida Mall and Mall at Millenia.
Photos: Orange County deputy wounded in shooting
According to the arrest report for Redding’s accused co-defendant, on Jan. 26, a 71-year-old woman was found on the ground next to her vehicle, bleeding from her head and complaining of an injury to her right shoulder. She told Orange County deputies that she was leaving a business when a man inside a white vehicle said, “How you doing?” before grabbing her purse.
Officers with the Orlando Police Department responded to the Mall at Millenia on Jan. 26 and said an 80-year-old woman was attacked in the same fashion. The woman said she had to have her shoulder replaced.
A third woman was attacked at the Florida Mall 90 minutes after the second attack. According to the report, Redding Jr. was caught on camera with two other men at Footlocker buying clothes with stolen credit cards.
Redding Jr. was also on supervised release from the Department of Corrections from the 2012 conviction when he was arrested in January. He bonded out of jail 11 days ago.
9 Investigates learned he never should have been released from jail nearly two weeks ago because of the probation violation involving the arrest.
"It is quite evident someone not only dropped a ball, but a huge ball in this particular case," said former chief Judge Belvin Perry who is also a WFTV legal analyst. "It just slipped through the cracks. Either someone did not see it or run a thorough records check, that's yet to be determined.
Redding Jr. was shot and killed by deputies Tuesday just before noon.
[ Photos: Woman says bullets hit home during deputy-involved shooting ]
The gunfire was reported in the 8500 block of South Texas Avenue near Americana Boulevard.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said Sgt. Richard Stelter, 45, was shot in the hand, arm and other areas during the pursuit, but is expected to recover. He remains in stable condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center.