0:00 - Body cam 1
13:52 - Body cam 2
---------
Winter Park police have released body camera video of the circumstances that led to a man being shot and killed at a wedding in Winter Park.
Daniel Knight, the bride's uncle, is seen surrounded by other guests at the Winter Park Events Center on Morse Boulevard.
Winter Park police got a 911 call from the city's new events center Feb. 19.
“I have a very irate, drunk guest. He's trying to beat people up. He’s yelling,” the 911 caller said.
Two officers responded and were directed to Daniel Knight, 39, who was reportedly battering guests at his niece's wedding.
As officers approached, police say Knight's sisters were trying to calm him.
Women’s voices can be heard on the video telling the officers, “he’s OK, he’s OK, he’s OK. He’s our brother. It’s his first wedding.”
Knight appears agitated and the officers separate Knight from a woman they say he pulled in front of himself as they try to encourage him to step away and talk with them.
Knight doesn’t comply and also ignores an order to put his hands behind his back.
From Officer 1’s body camera, Knight is then seen punching Officer 1 in the head which knocked him to the ground.
Police say Officer 1 was left unconscious.
With Officer 1 down, Officer 2 deploys his taser at Knight but it has no effect.
Knight then punches Officer 2 in the head, knocking him to the ground and police say Knight continues to strike that officer in the head after the officer is down.
At that point, the body camera video from Officer 2 shows him roll over and discharge his firearm seven times at Knight, striking and killing him.
Witnesses are heard screaming and telling police to call for an ambulance.
"Do something now! Do something," one man screams.
Officers are seen beginning CPR on Knight.
"You didn't have to f------ shoot him," one woman screams.
Officials said police rendered medical aid to Knight until medics arrived and took him to the hospital, where he died.
Winter Park police say FDLE asked them to wait and release the body camera videos until all 100 witnesses to the incident had been interviewed.
The FDLE investigation is still ongoing and it's not known if the officer who shot Knight may face any charges.
In the meantime, attorneys Adrian Mendiondo and Farnita Saunders Hill who represent Knight's family sent WESH 2 News this statement: “Today police – more than a month after his unnecessary death – finally released video of the incident. The only thing the video establishes is that Daniel Knight did not deserve to die; his family continues to mourn his death and we will fight for justice on their behalf.”
The Winter Park Police Department says the two police officers involved have a combined 47 years of experience.
The officer who shot Knight remains on administrative duty.
The officer who was struck unconscious by Knight is back on full duty.
WESH 2 asked Florida Gulf Coast University's Professor of Forensic Studies Dr. David Thomas to review the footage.
"Was it tragic? Yes. But was it justifiable? Yes. I don't think you have any other means because, in this case, the suspect actually had the upper hand. The officers are already down. He's been hit in the head multiple times," Thomas said.
Thomas said the police's de-escalation attempts weren't perfect.
"For a brief second, you can hear the officer saying, 'Can you tell me what's going on?' Well, that should start that should have been the very beginning," Thomas said.
911 calls
The news release said that, around 9:30 p.m. Feb. 19, a 911 caller told dispatchers a guest was "assaulting guests at the wedding reception to include grabbing people by the neck and shoving people to the floor."
A report on the 911 call states the guest, later identified as Knight, was "grabbing an older woman and shoving her." The caller added the man "shoved several to the floor and grabbed a woman by the neck."
Family members said 39-year-old Knight was celebrating his niece's wedding at the Winter Park Events Center on Morse Boulevard.
Audio of the 911 call described Knight as shirtless, drunk and "very violent."
"It's getting bad," the caller said. "Anybody of authority is making him angry."
Officials said, as one officer was attempting to separate Knight from another guest, Knight punched the officer, knocking him unconscious.
