On New Year's Day in Orlando, Florida, a family cookout turned into a scene of tragedy, ending the life of 64-year-old Dennis Turner, a Black male and retired police officer. The evening of January 1, 2026, was shattered by gunfire at a home on Kozart Street, where first responders found Turner with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a domestic dispute.
Family members at the gathering told police that Turner had been in an argument with his father-in-law, 58-year-old Jeffery London. Witnesses recounted a chilling sequence of events, stating that after the argument, Turner began to walk away from London. It was then that London allegedly drew a handgun and shot his son-in-law in the back. As Turner fell to the ground and tried to crawl away, witnesses reported that London stood over him and fired several more shots.
Immediately following the shooting, London fled the scene. A coordinated effort between law enforcement agencies in Orange, Polk, and Highlands counties led to his capture later that same evening, 90 miles away in Sebring. London was arrested and has since been charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Court documents revealed that London, a Black male, had a previous homicide conviction from 1985. According to Turner's wife, who is London's daughter, the family had cut ties with London following an argument in July 2025, and he had not been invited to the New Year's Day cookout.
Dennis Turner had a long career with the Orlando Police Department, serving for 23 years before retiring in 2018. He later returned to the force as a reserve officer. His career, however, was marked by a controversial 2019 incident where he arrested a six-year-old girl at her school, an event that sparked national outrage and led to changes in Florida law regarding the arrest of minors. Turner was fired from his reserve position following the incident, and a lawsuit against him alleging excessive force and false arrest was ongoing at the time of his death. Following his arrest, Jeffery London was held in the Orange County jail with no bond.
