William McClish: Florida man convicted of ambushing police officers on live stream gets life in prison

ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA: William McClish, a 29-year-old Florida man, will be spending the rest of his life behind bars after brutally ambushing two police officers in an attack that he live-streamed on Facebook.

Orange County Circuit Court Judge Keven B Weiss sentenced McClish to life in prison following his conviction on several charges, including attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery with great bodily harm.

Insights into William McClish's attack on Orlando police officers

According to authorities, McClish's unprovoked assault occurred around 12:30 am on September 25, 2021, when officers Michael Zambito and Stephen Hurt of the Orlando Police Department were stationed at North Magnolia and East Washington Street. The suspect, seemingly preparing to record a video, suddenly attacked Officer Hurt with a brick and then proceeded to assault both officers.

Despite attempts to subdue him, McClish continued his violent onslaught, biting Zambito and attempting to gouge his eye with his fingers. He even seized the officer's radio hand mic during the struggle to prevent a distress call for help.

Prosecutors revealed that McClish had set up his phone to livestream the attack on Facebook, stating his intentions to kill one of the officers moments before initiating the assault. Additionally, while in custody, he boasted about his attempt to seize an officer's firearm during the altercation.

William McClish's claims of setup rejected as jury delivers guilty verdict

During the trial, McClish, acting as his own defense attorney, claimed he was set up and made minimal remarks, asserting, "I didn't do it and the evidence was tampered with," according to the state attorney's office.

The sentencing follows a trial where jurors swiftly found McClish guilty on all charges after just an hour of deliberation. This verdict marks a stark contrast to a plea deal the suspects turned down in 2023, which would have resulted in a five-year prison sentence for pleading guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer.

Although McClish attempted to revisit the plea deal earlier this year, his efforts were rebuffed by new prosecutors.