Police release video of fatal shooting involving scissors-wielding man
By Gail Paschall-Brown
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ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — Orlando police released on Tuesday surveillance and bodycam footage showing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Benjamin Hale, 46, who charged at officers with scissors on Aug. 22 at 3:40 a.m. near West Amelia Street and Chatham Avenue.
The incident occurred after police responded to a disturbance between two roommates, although Hale was not involved in the initial dispute.
The video shows officers repeatedly commanding Hale to drop the weapon, which was later identified as a pair of scissors.
Roy Bedard, a former law enforcement officer who provides training in the public safety sector, reviewed the footage and noted, “There’s a lot of things happening there, first of all, the element of surprise.”
Bedard explained that Hale did not rush the officers but walked towards them, taking two to three steps before the shot was fired.
“He doesn’t rush the officers, but he does walk towards the officers, and I had to go through slow motion a few times to see he takes two to three steps towards the officers when the shot is fired,” Bedard said.
When asked if a Taser could have been used instead of a gun, Bedard said, “With the benefit of hindsight perhaps,” but added that a Taser against a weapon is not a good tactical choice.
He further explained, “We’re uncertain about what he’s going to do. We don’t know where he came from. We saw him bolt up to the door. He quickly turned around, still with the scissors in his hand, and refused to comply with officers’ orders. The best solution for that is to address that deadly threat with deadly force.”
Benjamin Hale died at the scene.
Orlando police stated that the officers had no prior contact with Hale and that it appeared he had been sleeping in Luminary Green Park near downtown Orlando.
The two officers involved in the shooting were not injured.
As with all officer-involved shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.
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