By Christal Hayes, Martin E. Comas and Caitlin Doornbos
Orlando Sentinel
CASSELBERRY, Fla. — One man was killed and two Casselberry police officers were injured in a shootout early today after responding to a domestic violence call at a home on Crestview Drive. Two other officers responding to the home were not hurt.
The suspect, identified as James Lee Parran, was later found dead in the doorway of the home; it is unclear whether his gunshot was self-inflicted or if he was shot by officers.
The two officers had minor injuries. Both were treated at a hospital and released.
“My officers acted admirably when faced with this situation,” Casselberry Police chief Larry Krantz said at a news conference this morning.
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At a second press conference later Saturday morning, Krantz said Parran, 65, called police to the home on Crestview Drive before 4 a.m., claiming he battered his wife, then met the police with a shotgun.
All four officers returned fire and then retreated, Krantz said.
“Make no mistake about it, this was a deadly force encounter,” Krantz said.
Krantz said the suspect’s wife was at the house but apparently left before the shooting began. Police interviewed her, and by midday, she was with her family.
Police evacuated fewer than a dozen people from nearby homes as SWAT along with officers from agencies across Central Florida surrounded the house.
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Neighbor Billy Raye Carson Jr. was sleeping when he heard what he thought were fireworks. When he opened his front door he was met with bursts of gunfire from two doors down.
“They were just blindly shooting at the house and started shouting for me to get back inside,” said Carson Jr., 30.
He said as he was watching the chaos unfold from his doorway, he saw both cops get injured.
That’s when law enforcement retreated and threw a flash-bang into the home, he said.
“All I could think was to get me and my roommates down and away from the windows,” he said, adding his trailer was shot twice.
Carson Jr. said he saw one officer with blood on his face. Another was carried away from fellow law enforcement. Throughout the ordeal, at least 50 or 60 gunshots were fired, he said.
He said he’s friends with Parran.
Krantz said Parran had no history of violence and police had never been called to the home, aside from a noise complaint.
Carson Jr. said the suspect was a military veteran who was always relaxing on his front porch.
“You could always hear him playing his country music,” he said. “He was a nice guy. Something must have just made him crack.”
He said they talk frequently and there were no signs the suspect or his wife were having any problems.
Witnesses say at least 100 law-enforcement vehicles swarmed the neighborhood within the Seminole County city.
Margaret Daly, 28, said she was coming home from her shift at Wendy’s when she saw officers zipping past her.
Her mother called and told her to be careful because gunfire kept going off.
As she drove near the neighborhood, she saw at least 100 cars and could hear shooting.
Daly said officers from a slew of agencies were there, including Sanford, Winter Springs, Casselberry and Seminole County.
She said all of the officers had long guns.
“It was like one batch of gunfire, then a little bit later there was more,” Daly said. “...There’s just so many cops here. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating, Krantz said.
What appeared to be several family members and friends were talking to Casselberry and FDLE investigators in the back parking lot of nearby convenience story.
One of the men was on cell phone and crying saying: “They shot him. The cops just shot him.” They did not want to talk.
This shooting comes after Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton was shot and killed last month at a Wal-Mart. After a days-long manhunt, Markeith Loyd was arrested and charged in her death.
Governor Rick Scott thanked the wounded officers for their bravery in a statement Saturday morning.
“Every day our brave law enforcement officers place their lives on the line to protect Florida’s communities,” Scott said. “Ann and I are praying for a speedy recovery for the two Casselberry Police Department officers injured this morning and thank them for their courage in the face of danger.”
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
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©2017 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)