Police Shoot Man Who Fired Gun Outside a Downtown Orlando Restaurant

In the early hours of April 20, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., detectives with the Orlando Police Department's Crime Center were monitoring surveillance feeds in downtown Orlando. Their attention was drawn to a developing situation in the area of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard, outside a popular nightlife spot — Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery, located at 13 South Orange Avenue. }; As the detectives observed the live footage, a physical altercation broke out among a group of individuals outside the establishment. In the middle of the struggle, they noticed a handgun fall from one of the men involved in the fight. The individual, later identified as 38-year-old Johnathan Angel Flores, quickly retrieved the firearm and placed it back into his waistband. Recognizing the potential for imminent violence, detectives immediately radioed nearby officers and directed them to the scene. }; As uniformed officers began responding to the area, the situation escalated even further. According to police reports and surveillance footage, Flores brandished the handgun once more and fired a single round into the air. The shot was fired in close proximity to several bystanders and patrons gathered in the area, creating panic and prompting nearby individuals to flee for cover.

Responding officers arrived within moments and quickly identified Flores as the armed suspect. They issued multiple loud verbal commands for him to drop the weapon. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing repeated shouts of “Drop the gun!” from the officers as they attempted to de-escalate the situation. Despite these repeated warnings, Flores did not comply and continued to hold the firearm.

With Flores posing an ongoing and immediate threat to public safety, officers discharged their service weapons, striking him. Officers quickly secured the scene and approached Flores, who had collapsed following the gunfire. Emergency medical personnel were immediately called to render aid.Flores was transported by paramedics to Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), where he was later pronounced deceased. The officers involved in the shooting were not physically harmed during the incident. Per department policy and protocol, they were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the use of deadly force.rities have not indicated that these previous charges were related to violent crimes, and it remains unclear what led to his involvement in the fight that evening or why he discharged his weapon in a crowded area.

The incident occurred during a busy weekend night in downtown Orlando, an area often filled with clubgoers, restaurant patrons, and tourists. The presence of the OPD Crime Center’s real-time surveillance monitoring likely allowed officers to respond faster than if the event had been reported through a 911 call. Officials with the Orlando Police Department acknowledged that the rapid coordination between the Crime Center and on-the-ground officers helped prevent what could have potentially turned into a mass casualty situation. }; The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has taken over the investigation, as is customary in all officer-involved shootings in the state. Investigators will review body camera footage, surveillance video, witness statements, and ballistic evidence to determine whether the officers' actions were justified under department policy and state law. The Orlando Police Department has stated it will provide updates to the public as more information becomes available. In the meantime, they are urging anyone with additional video or firsthand accounts of the incident to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation. The community has expressed concern over the violence but also gratitude that no civilians or officers were injured during the exchange.