The Orlando Police Department has released body camera video of a fatal, officer-involved shooting that took place at the Millenia Mall last month.
The graphic video shows the moments on May 28 when 19-year-old Sebastian Sepulveda Roman opened fire on an Orlando Police Department officer while being escorted from the mall, which is located at 4200 Conroy Road.
In the video, Sepulveda Roman is stopped by an officer inside of the mall who saw him interact with underage girls. The officer confiscates a bottle of alcohol that Sepulveda Roman is concealing in a backpack before interrogating him regarding the minors he previously approached.
During the interrogation, Sepulveda Roman says he is at the mall to “have a good time.” When asked why he approached underaged girls, Sepulveda Roman says that he asked their ages beforehand.
After a few minutes, the officer tells Sepulveda Roman that he is going to issue a warning for the alcohol before he begins to escort him out of the building.
Just after exiting the mall, the officer notices a jar in Sepulveda Roman’s bag that contains marijuana. The officer asks to search the bag, to which Sepulveda Roman refuses while also admitting that he had marijuana in the mall. The officer asks again to search his bag before Sepulveda Roman begins to pull away.
The officer tells Sepulveda Roman to not resist and to not “make it worse,” before Sepulveda Roman says “please” and begins running.
In the video, Sepulveda Roman is seen running away while the officer takes steps back. It is clear the officer is not in pursuit.
Before reaching the street, Sepulveda Roman is seen reaching into his bag, pulling out a gun, and turning around.
The officer screams “get out of here, get out of here” before Sepulveda Roman turns around and fires at him.
The officer does not return fire and jumps into nearby bushes while a woman seated in a bench runs for cover. Authorities say the officer did not return fire because of the civilians in the area.
Shortly thereafter, a second officer responds to the scene as Sepulveda Roman runs toward the Olive Garden located at 4101 Conroy Road. After hearing one additional shot, the second officer fires at Sepulveda Roman in the parking lot.
Body camera video from a third officer shows responding units approaching Sepulveda Roman after he is shot. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
According to the Medical Examiner’s report, the manner of death was ruled as a suicide by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.