Orange County Sheriff John Mina confirmed that 48-year-old Jason Anthony Beal, shot by a deputy near a Walmart on East Colonial Drive, had recently been arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in Orlando. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the store located at 11250 East Colonial Drive.

Details of the Shooting

According to Mina, Beal was accused of shoplifting and had declared ‘martial law’ before leaving the store. A loss prevention officer reportedly saw what appeared to be a knife on Beal and heard him make comments about a gun before he exited the premises.

Deputies arrived at the scene and found Beal near the Walmart with a shopping cart filled with stolen merchandise. The deputy attempted to stop him using a Taser after Beal failed to respond to repeated commands. In body camera footage, the deputy can be heard saying, ‘Don’t reach,’ three times before using his service weapon and firing at Beal, striking him several times.

Beal was then handcuffed and given first aid before being transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The sheriff’s office stated that two knives were recovered at the scene, and that Beal did not attempt to harm anyone inside the store.

Legal and Investigative Actions

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, as is the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff said the FDLE will turn over its findings to the state attorney’s office before the sheriff’s office conducts its own investigation.

Beal has an extensive criminal record across multiple Florida counties. Most recently, he was arrested by the Orlando Police Department for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in a stabbing incident. He was released from jail after 33 days due to charges not being formally filed.

Beal now faces charges of robbery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer with violence. As of Monday morning, he was still in the hospital.

Broader Context and Recent Incidents

This incident occurred days after a 16-year-old shoplifting suspect was shot and killed by an Osceola County deputy at a Poinciana Walmart. According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the teen was one of three people in the store who had concealed merchandise. The teenager pulled a gun and ran through the store before being shot dead by the deputy.

Officials said the Osceola County deputy involved in that shooting is also under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The recent shootings have raised concerns about the use of force by law enforcement in retail environments.

The sheriff’s office has not yet commented on the specific circumstances of Beal’s declaration of ‘martial law’ or its relevance to the incident. However, the phrase has been used in various contexts to suggest a state of emergency or heightened control, though its exact meaning in this case remains unclear.

As the investigations progress, officials will determine whether the use of force by the deputy was justified under the circumstances. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released the body camera footage of the shooting, pending the completion of the FDLE investigation.