Active Shooter Shot and Killed by Police in Melbourne, Florida

The suspect in the “active shooter” incident that occurred in Melbourne on Wednesday morning was killed after being shot by police, according to officials.

Melbourne Police Chief David Gillespie stated that the suspect, who has not yet been identified, exited the apartment unit where he had barricaded himself and began shooting at police officers.

Multiple law enforcement agencies returned fire, hitting and injuring the suspect “multiple times.”

No police officers were injured in the shooting, Gillespie confirmed.

The Melbourne Police Department initially reported the incident as an “active shooter situation” in a post on X shortly before 8:50 a.m. Police stated they received a 911 call around 8:30 a.m. from a concerned individual about a suspicious person at the complex near Babcock Street and Strawbridge Avenue.

While the details of the call weren’t immediately released, Gillespie mentioned that the Melbourne Police Department would provide an update later.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers were immediately met with gunfire from the suspect but managed to retreat without injury.

“They didn’t have the opportunity to knock on the door. So, again, we’re very fortunate,” Gillespie said. Authorities reported that the officers did not return fire when the suspect initially shot at them.

Instead, they took a defensive position, setting up a perimeter to contain the scene. SWAT officers and crisis negotiation teams attempted to persuade the suspect to surrender and resolve the situation safely.

However, at some point, the suspect exited the apartment and allegedly began firing at police. Multiple officers from at least two law enforcement agencies then returned fire. It is still unclear how many officers were involved in shooting at the suspect.

Gillespie initially stated the suspect was “in custody” after the shooting, but an update on Wednesday morning confirmed that the suspect was killed.

The motive behind the suspect’s actions remains undetermined.

The investigation is ongoing, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, which is standard protocol.