Police release video of deadly shooting at Winter Park wedding reception

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Winter Park police released body camera video on Wednesday from the fatal shooting of a wedding reception guest in February.

Daniel Knight, 39, was shot and killed by Winter Park police while attending his niece’s wedding reception at the Winter Park Events Center on Feb. 19.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The release of the video comes weeks after the city announced it was developing a policy to release body camera footage within 30 days of an incident after questioning by Channel 9.

The body camera shows the interaction between police and Knight was only about a minute long before seven shots were fired.

“He’s OK, he’s our brother, he’s our brother,” family members are heard saying in the video.

READ: Family of wedding guest shot, killed by Winter Park police refute department’s account

His family and friends can be heard warning the officers that he has some sort of PTSD. Family members told Channel 9 that came from a bad interaction with law enforcement when he was a teenager.

The body camera video shows Knight punching a responding officer, knocking him to the ground. In the video, officers are also seen discharging their Tasers on Knight before police said Knight struck another officer knocking him to the ground. That second officer is the one who shoots Knight, who later died at the hospital.

You can watch a portion of the body camera footage below (WARNING: Graphic footage and language):

(Warning: Graphic video: Police release video of deadly shooting at Winter Park wedding reception) Winter Park police released body camera video on Wednesday from the fatal shooting of a wedding reception guest in February. (WFTV)

Winter Park police released the 911 call that led to police responding to the venue last month, in which the caller said a man was “grabbing people by the neck” and “shoving people to the floor.”

In audio released following the shooting, the caller said, “He’s grabbing an older woman and shoving her.” He was described as “violent” and “very drunk.”

Photos: Family of wedding guest shot, killed by Winter Park police refute department’s account

Knight’s family has refuted that he was acting belligerent or violent at the reception.

The city did not offer comment on the video, because officials said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into whether the shooting was justified is still ongoing.

Channel 9 is continuing to go through the footage released by police. Watch Eyewitness News starting at 4 p.m. for the latest updates.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 15

Knight family news conference The family of the man shot and killed by Winter Park police while attending his niece’s wedding reception is refuting what officers said happened leading up to the shooting. (Nick Papantonis)

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Police: Winter Park wedding guest fatally shot by officer shoved people, grabbed woman’s neck
• Family says wedding guest shot and killed by Winter Park police was bride’s uncle
• Wedding guest shot, killed by Winter Park police after knocking officer unconscious, police say
• Family of wedding guest shot, killed by Winter Park police hires attorney

Video: Winter Park mayor addresses when body cam footage of wedding reception shooting could be released Law enforcement and the family of a man shot and killed by police during a wedding reception in Winter Park disagree over what exactly happened. (Karla Ray, WFTV.com)

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2022 Cox Media Group