Orlando, FL — The Orlando Police Department has released body camera footage of a deadly officer-involved shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of August 22 near West Amelia Street and Chatham Avenue, on the edge of Luminary Green Park.
According to police, officers responded around 3:40 a.m. to a disturbance between roommates when a man, later identified as 46-year-old Benjamin Isaac Hale, suddenly charged at officers with a pair of scissors.
In bodycam video released Friday, officers can be heard repeatedly ordering Hale to drop the weapon. Police say he refused to comply and continued advancing. Moments later, officers opened fire. Hale was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hale, who police confirmed was not involved in the original roommate dispute, had a criminal record that included burglary with assault and battery, grand theft, and drug possession.
The officers were not injured in the incident. As with all police shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will lead an independent investigation, with the findings reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office.
This marks the latest use-of-force incident involving Orlando police at a time when community advocates have called for greater transparency and accountability in officer-involved shootings. Luminary Green Park, a relatively new downtown gathering space, has also become a site where unhoused residents sometimes seek refuge overnight which has become a reality that raises further questions about how officers interact with vulnerable populations.
OPD said Friday the release of bodycam footage was part of its commitment to transparency. The department did not immediately identify the officers involved or disclose how many shots were fired.
“We know the public has questions,” an OPD spokesperson said. “We will share more as the investigation moves forward.”
