Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon confirmed that an off‑duty deputy fatally shot a woman at the Sun on the Beach entertainment complex in Old Town, Kissimmee, Saturday night. The incident occurred around 10:37 p.m. after a disturbance involving a female and a male patron.
What happened
According to the sheriff, the woman drew a pistol and placed it against the male’s back as they exited the venue. She later re‑entered the bar, turned the gun to the side, and approached the man again. Deputies on the scene issued multiple commands for her to drop the weapon. When she raised the pistol toward the man, the deputy fired a single round, striking the woman in the back of the head.
Blackmon said the victim, identified as Dannie Rodriguez, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Rodriguez was a disabled Army veteran with PTSD and a mother of three. Her husband, Anthony Rodriguez, told WESH that his wife had gone to Old Town to sing and dance after putting up Christmas decorations. He described the night as “hard to believe” and announced plans for a funeral.
Law‑enforcement response
The deputy involved was not on patrol but was working in a security capacity for Old Town at the time. He has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting with the investigation, and body‑worn camera footage from the responding deputies is expected to be released later this week.
In addition to the shooting, a friend of the couple, Gary Eugene Head, was arrested and charged with battery. Anthony Rodriguez was tased after becoming physical with a deputy, but the sheriff’s office did not arrest him and referred the matter to the state attorney’s office.
Community impact
Witnesses, including patron Alice Alicea, described hearing the gunshot while dancing nearby. “We were dancing and having a nice time, and all of a sudden I heard the shooting,” Alicea said. The incident has left many patrons in shock and raised concerns about safety at the popular Old Town venue.
Detectives are still attempting to locate the man Rodriguez was pointing the gun at during the altercation. The sheriff’s office has asked anyone with information to contact the office or call Crimeline at 800‑423‑8477 to remain anonymous.
Next steps
The investigation remains ongoing. The sheriff’s office will release the body‑camera video when it is reviewed, and the deputy’s status will be determined after the investigation concludes.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
