Man Commits Suicide After Killing Four Children
Police were called to a residence in Orlando, Florida, after Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr, 35, allegedly beat his girlfriend. Lindsey was currently on felony probation following various charges including arson, when the incident occurred on Sunday night.
Upon arriving at house, Orlando police officers were shot at by Lindsey, and officer Kevin Valencia was shot in an exchange of gunfire. The officer is said to have suffered a “very serious, significant injury” but is expected to make a survive. After exchanging gunfire, Lindsey barricaded himself in the house along with four children – two of his own children and two of his girlfriend’s.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said that their main concern “is the safety of the children in that apartment” and had a SWAT team on site attempting to negotiate with Lindsey. Communication proved to be an issue as Lindsey’s phone had intermittent service, so one of the police officers offered Lindsey their phone. This was when the officer saw the body of one of the children, resulting in the officers attempting to rescue the other children.
The standoff came to an end when a SWAT team descended on the apartment complex on Eaglesmere Drive, near Universal Orlando. Authorities were able to enter the residence late Monday night, and discovered the bodies of four children – aged 1, 6, 10, and 11 – with gunshot wounds, along with Lindsey who had shot himself.
According to Orange County Sheriff Demmings, approximately 60 deputies were involved in the effort to rescue the children.
