1. “Man killed by Orange Co. deputies with mental health problems”
2. “Orange Co. deputies allegedly involved in fatal shooting of mentally ill man”.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Decarlos Cornelius Long identified as the man shot and killed by deputies in Orange County

Decarlos Cornelius Long, a 43-year-old man, was fatally shot by deputies in Orange County on Tuesday. The incident occurred when the sheriff’s office responded to a call about a person harming themselves. Upon the deputies’ arrival, Long reportedly ran towards them with a knife. This unfortunate event took place at a residence that has been a subject of concern, with the sheriff’s office being called to the location 16 times over the past year. The calls varied from reports of suspicious incidents to threats and assault, culminating in the call about someone harming themselves on Tuesday.

Residents in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred were initially unaware of the situation until they noticed crime scene tape and understood what was happening. Amy Messina, a resident, shared her experience, stating that she had heard what she thought were firecrackers earlier but later realized they were gunshots. She encountered caution tape around the corner when she went outside to take out the garbage, indicating that something serious had transpired.

The sheriff mentioned that Long had a history of mental health issues, shedding light on the possible underlying factors contributing to the incident. This revelation saddened Messina and highlighted the importance of addressing mental health concerns. Some sheriffs’ offices have established Behavioral Response Units to handle calls involving mental health cases. Although Orange County lists this unit on their website, it remains unclear whether it responded to the call on Tuesday.

Cherlette McCullough, a licensed marriage and family therapist, emphasized the gravity of situations where someone is reported to be harming themselves, labeling them as crises. McCullough explained that sheriffs’ offices with behavioral response units usually dispatch a trained mental health clinician alongside deputies with crisis intervention training. Despite the presence of additional support, such situations remain highly sensitive, requiring utmost precautions to ensure the safety of the individuals involved.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:

• Call or text 988 if you or someone you know may be contemplating suicide. You can also chat with professionals at 988lifeline.org.
• Contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Orlando for support.
• Visit the Mental Health Association of Central Florida for additional resources.

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1. “Man killed by Orange Co. deputies with mental health issues”
2. “Orange Co. deputies allegedly involved in fatal shooting of mentally ill man”.