ORLANDO, Fla. — A man who was on bond after being charged with stealing more than $88,000 from an unlocked ATM on New Year’s Day was shot and killed by officers, Orlando police said.
Orlando police officers shot the armed suspect, Eric Provost, 28, at the Courtney Landing condos on the 6500 block of Swissco Drive near Lee Vista Boulevard.
The officers, later identified as Tino Cruz and Sonja Saunders, were at the condo complex responding to a report of a suspicious incident at about 7:30 p.m. Monday.
The two officers said when they arrived at the scene they were confronted by Provost, who wouldn’t drop his weapon, so they opened fire.
On Tuesday, police confirmed Provost’s weapon was an airsoft gun.
Resident Ray Panetto said the scene was very intense.
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“They were yelling, 'Freeze, put the gun down,' but it was very chaotic,” he said. “You don't hear just one voice, you hear them all.”
The neighborhood sounded like a battlefield, he added.
“We heard one shot and we looked at each other and then we heard 10 more shots right in a row,” he said. “… When you hear that many gunshots, it sounds like a war.”
The officers were not injured. Provost was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he died.
Specific details on the original suspicious incident call were not immediately released.
Last week, Orange County deputies arrested Provost after they said he stole more than $88,000 in cash from an unlocked Bank of America ATM.
An armored car driver dropped off the cash but didn’t lock the machine. A few hours later, deputies believe Provost used the machine, realized it was left open and returned with a good covering his face to steal the cash.
Police said the incident Monday night had nothing to do with the ATM case.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mina said in a press conference that Provost’s father had called police concerned for his well-being.
“I’m just really worried about my husband because, you know, shots can go through walls,” said resident Berolyn Movasaghi, who was among a dozen others not allowed to return home for two hours.
“Most are concerned because there are family members that are in there still and we are stuck out here,” said resident Alejandro Ramirez.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the officers involved with the incident have been on the force for five to 10 years.
"These things happen in the blink of an eye," Mina said. "Our officers have to make split-second decisions."
Mina said after the shooting, a military veteran who lives at the complex came outside with a gun, but immediately complied with officers’ orders to drop his weapon.
“Our officers, after just being involved in a shooting, turned to confront this other armed person and showed great composure,” said Mina.
The veteran was questioned by police.
Per standard procedure, the officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave.
Related story: Deputies: $88,000 in cash stolen from unlocked ATM
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