Orlando police kill man accused of shooting 2 of their officers, officials say
MIAMI -- A man whose vehicle is linked to a homicide in Miami was shot and killed Saturday at an Orlando hotel after the suspect allegedly shot and critically wounded two Orlando officers Friday night, police said.
Daton S. Viel, 28, was killed by officers of the Orlando SWAT team after he barricaded himself inside a Holiday Inn off Kirkman Road in Central Florida, police Chief Eric Smith said in a news conference Saturday afternoon.
SWAT units responded to the hotel around 6 a.m. Saturday during a massive search for the suspect who has been accused of shooting the two Orlando officers.
Police said those officers, who were not immediately identified, were in critical condition as of Saturday but expected to recover.
The officers were investigating a vehicle wanted in connection with a Miami homicide around 11 p.m. Friday night, according to Smith. During a stop, the suspect shot them, stole another car and fled with police in pursuit.
"After the shooting occurred, he did do a car jacking," Smith said. "We had a victim of a carjacking, so that was the vehicle that basically we were in vehicle pursuit of."
Veil's presence at a motel in the Orlando tourist district alarmed guests.
"They had told us that we have to evacuate because the lights were going off," said a man who was staying in the hotel.
A second suspect was detained but cleared of involvement, according to Smith, who said Viel acted alone.
Miami-Dade police said the vehicle in question was linked to a fatal shooting that occurred July 10 at 1:40 p.m. in the area of NW 83rd Street and NW 22 Avenue.
Police said a man was shot at that location before he was taken to Jackson Ryder Trauma Center where he died.
The unidentified man had been sitting on the front porch of the residence when someone in a ski mask approached and chased him before shooting the victim and leaving the area in a red Ford Fusion. The vehicle and its paper tag was captured on surveillance camera footage.
"It's a very sad day for our community to learn that two Orlando Police Department officers were shot last night," Stephanie Daniels, interim Miami-Dade police director said in a written statement. "It's a constant reminder of the dangers law enforcement face everyday while protecting their communities."
WKMG-TV in Orlando reported that Veil had an extensive criminal history and was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl last year.
CBS News Miami reporter Anna McAllisster contributed to this report.