Who was Derek Diaz, 26-year-old man shot, killed by Orlando officer?

Few days ago, news emerged that, an Orlando police officer shot and killed a 26 year old man identified as Derek Diaz.

According to the Orlando police department, the officer thought that 26-year-old Derek Diaz was reaching for a gun.

Chief Eric D. Smith said the shooting happened before 2 a.m. near Jefferson Street and North Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando, an area known as a “hotspot for criminal activity.”

He said they were investigating a man seen in a car, and they say that man made a move that looked like he was going for a gun. The police chief said that caused an officer to shoot at Diaz.

The chief said this started as a drug investigation.

“We recovered drugs, and there were drugs that were seen, and that was cause for the officers to stop and get out with the person,” said Orlando police Chief Eric Smith.

Police did not identify the officer involved in the shooting, but Smith said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would conduct an independent review of the shooting followed by the State Attorney’s Office.

The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, and OPD will also be doing its own investigation.

The officer who shot Diaz was wearing a body camera, footage from which Smith said he has seen. That video will be made available to the public within 30 days, OPD said.