16-Year-Old Killed in Deputy-Involved Shooting at Poinciana Walmart

A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed inside the Walmart at Poinciana Town Center after an off-duty Osceola County deputy confronted three people suspected of concealing merchandise, Sheriff Chris Blackmon said. The store is located at 904 Cypress Parkway in Kissimmee, Osceola County, and deputies said they were alerted just before 8:00 p.m.

Sheriff Blackmon described the encounter at a press briefing: “One of our deputies is working off-duty at the Walmart, they've hired him here for the safety and security of the customers. And tonight, the loss prevention officer, which is the theft prevention officer at Walmart, notified our deputy at the front of the store that there were three men inside the store that had concealed merchandise. Our deputy attempted to meet those men at the front of the store and when he did, one of the gentlemen took off running, had a gun in his hand, and with that said, our deputy fired down range at the suspect and took him out. He had a gun in his hand and was running through the store.”

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office identified the person shot as a 16-year-old; investigators said the youth was one of three people inside the store and the other two were a juvenile and an adult in his 20s. Local television reporting added that the 16-year-old lived in Poinciana and had recently turned 16 on December 30, 2025.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation, and the sheriff’s office said it will not release additional information, including surveillance video, while FDLE conducts its probe. Multiple local reports said a heavy law enforcement presence remained at the Walmart into the late evening, with several entrances blocked for hours and deputies walking the parking lot; interior video shown to reporters appeared to show at least one person on the floor.

An eyewitness inside the store described the panic afterward, saying people were “screaming, hollering, uh grabbing their children, clutching them.” Channel 9 reported that an armed bystander, described as a Good Samaritan, aided the deputy and spoke to investigators; the bystander’s account has been included in local broadcast coverage.

Osceola County Public Information Officer Kimberley Montes told crews deputies were notified just before 8 p.m. and that the scene at 904 Cypress Parkway remained active; a press conference was expected the night of the shooting. Officials have not disclosed how many shots were fired, whether the 16-year-old fired at the deputy, or whether any other weapons were discharged. The sheriff did not answer follow-up questions about the number of shots.

Some reports indicate the deputy involved has been placed on leave pending the FDLE inquiry, but the sheriff’s office has deferred additional administrative details to the ongoing investigation. Investigators have not released the identities or custody status of the other two people who were in the store, and no bystander injuries were reported in initial law enforcement statements.