Hostage situation turns deadly for children in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. — Four young children were discovered dead at a west Orlando apartment complex nearly 24 hours after a standoff that began when an Orlando police officer was shot responding to a domestic violence call.
The gunman was also discovered dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a closet when officers entered the apartment between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Eastern time, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said at a news conference just before midnight.
“A short time ago we made entry into the apartment and found that all four children have been killed by the suspect by apparent gunshot wounds,” Mina said. “Our hearts go out to the families involved.” The children were 1, 6, 10 and 11. “We have no idea when those children lost their lives,” Mina said.
Earlier Monday, police had identified the suspect as 35-year-old Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr., a felon currently on probation for arson and other charges. The wounded officer, Kevin Valencia, was recovering after surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center and was expected to live. He was still in critical condition early Tuesday, Mina said.
Two of the children are believed to be Lindsey’s, while the others are believed to belong to the victim in the case, which began early Monday when she called police to report that Lindsey had battered her at the Westbrook Apartments.
Mina said his officers had been in “direct and indirect” contact with Lindsey throughout the day, with the last indirect contact between 8:30 and 9 p.m. The gunman’s phone had spotty service, and police tried to offer him one of their phones. That’s when they saw the body of one child and decided to try to rescue the other children.
A big boom was heart at the complex at about 9 p.m.
The standoff at the apartment complex at 4932 Eaglesmere Drive, near Universal Orlando, forced residents from their homes in the middle of the night as SWAT officers descended on the complex.
Judy Pepper, 44, said she lives at the apartment complex, in the unit just below the suspect’s apartment. She had fallen asleep on her couch after watching the Yankees-Mets game. She said she was startled awake when she heard four loud gunshots: “It just went, ‘Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop,” Pepper said.
She then heard someone screaming and then a loud commotion near the stairwell.
Pepper said she looked out her window and saw three people carrying a police officer onto the grass. Other officers arrived and started working on the injured officer, Pepper said.