By Police1 Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. — A Orlando police officer who was shot while confronting a domestic-violence suspect remains in critical condition.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Officer Kevin Valencia entered his second day recovering at a hospital Tuesday after he was shot the previous day. Police have released few details about the officer, who’s been with the Orlando PD since 2016, but Chief John Mina called the wounded Valencia “extremely strong.”
“I’ve been with him several times today and his family,” Mina said at a news conference Monday afternoon. “He’s extremely strong, and we’re praying for the best.”
Mayor of Doral Juan Carlos Bermudez said Valencia made “a great difference” in his community.
“It’s clear that he continues to heroically act in the interest of public safety, even now as part of the Orlando Police Department,” Bermudez said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with him as we wish him a speedy recovery.”
Valencia was shot after responding to the scene of a battery incident where 35-year-old Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr. held four children hostage. Valencia was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
https://twitter.com/MayorJoseAlvar2/status/1006291221592137728
Police found the four children, ages 1, 6, 10 and 11 - and Lindsey dead after a 24-hour SWAT standoff. Police said Lindsey was a convicted felon on probation for arson and domestic-related charges.
Mina said Valencia’s colleagues were “shaken up” after the standoff.
“We’ve been through this before. It’s hard. It’s very traumatic to have one of your officers shot in the line of duty,” Mina said. “We are receiving so much support from our community, and that’s what we need for now.”
Police have not released additional details about the standoff.