ORLANDO, Fla. — A man accused of accidentally firing a stolen handgun in the heart of downtown Orlando has been arrested after a multi-day investigation by the Orlando Police Department.
According to investigators, officers responded around July 2 to reports of a gunshot near 1 South Orange Avenue. Detectives say an unidentified individual placed a firearm inside a trash receptacle before returning minutes later to retrieve it. While handling the weapon, the firearm discharged, striking a nearby building.
Police said no one was injured, and investigators found no evidence that the firearm was intentionally pointed at or used to threaten anyone.
The Orlando Police Department’s Crime Center later tracked the suspect to a downtown parking garage, where officers attempted to make contact. Investigators said the individual fled the scene. Officers later recovered the firearm nearby and determined it had been reported stolen.
As detectives continued their investigation, surveillance video and witness information revealed the suspect had allegedly been intoxicated throughout the evening and was seen dropping the firearm multiple times while walking through crowded downtown areas.
Despite the dangerous behavior, investigators said the department received no 911 calls from members of the public who witnessed the incidents.
Detectives also learned Orlando police officers had encountered the same individual earlier that evening at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, where he was issued a trespass warning and directed to leave the property. Information gathered during that encounter, combined with surveillance footage and additional evidence, led investigators to identify the suspect as Justice S. Fletcher, 38.
Fletcher was arrested on July 6 by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on unrelated charges as well as an outstanding Orlando Police Department warrant.
Orlando Police Department charges
Fletcher faces the following charges from the Orlando Police Department:
- Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
- Shooting into a Public Building
- Grand Theft
- Discharging a Firearm on Public Property
- Using a Firearm While Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages
- Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon or Firearm
- Resisting an Officer Without Violence
- Tampering with Evidence
In addition, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office charged Fletcher with:
- Battery
- Controlled Substance Offense
Police emphasized that the investigation remains active and that additional information is not being released to preserve its integrity.
The Orlando Police Department is urging residents to immediately call 911 if they witness unsafe or suspicious behavior involving firearms, saying prompt reporting can help prevent injuries and protect the community.
All criminal charges are allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
