Officers say the handgun appeared to jam as members fled a Crunch Fitness.
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL — A 35-year-old man accused of being a convicted felon pulled a handgun during a confrontation at a Central Florida gym and appeared to try to fire at other members after calling them “weak,” police said. No one was shot, and the man was arrested a short time later.
The case has drawn attention because the incident unfolded in a crowded public place where people were exercising, several witnesses reported panic, and officers say the suspect fled before being tracked down using membership and vehicle information. The suspect, Winston Medley, faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder, along with charges tied to evidence tampering and illegal gun possession, according to authorities. He was being held without bond as the investigation continued.
Police said the confrontation began Tuesday, Feb. 17, inside a Crunch Fitness gym along State Road 434 in Altamonte Springs, north of Orlando. A man told investigators he was working out with other people when Medley approached and commented on the amount of weight they were using, calling them “weak.” The remark sparked a brief argument, and Medley walked away, the report said. The group later moved to another area to keep lifting, but Medley returned and repeatedly asked whether the man “had a problem with him,” according to investigators. The man said he tried to calm the situation, telling Medley he did not have a problem but that Medley was acting aggressively and needed to stop.
Moments later, the man told police, Medley pulled a firearm from his waistband and pointed it at him at close range. The man ran, believing he was about to be shot, and said he looked back and saw Medley manipulating the gun as if trying to fire it or adjust it, the report said. Other witnesses described seeing the gun move as though the trigger had been pulled, but no shot rang out. One witness, who told officers he was about 10 feet away, said he saw the suspect lift his shirt, remove the handgun, and point it toward others. The witness said he watched Medley handle the firearm in a way that looked like he was trying to clear a jam or disengage a safety before putting it away and leaving.
As the weapon came out, gym members ran, and the scene turned chaotic, police said. Several people fled through exits and across the parking area, trying to get away from the weight room. No injuries were reported, and officers later said they did not find evidence that any round had been fired. Investigators said the suspect left the gym and drove away. A gym member identified by police as an off-duty law enforcement officer chased after him for a short distance, according to authorities, but Medley got to a car and departed.
Officers were called to the gym at 951 N. State Road 434 for what was described as a disturbance involving a firearm, authorities said. Investigators said gym staff helped police identify Medley using membership records, and surveillance video from the facility matched witness descriptions of the confrontation. A manager provided Medley’s membership details, including identifying information and vehicle information, police said. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office assisted in locating a red Ford Mustang registered to Medley, and officers found the vehicle near a McDonald’s on Tuskawilla Road in Winter Springs, authorities said.
When officers contacted Medley, he did not provide many details about what happened, according to police. In a statement included in the arrest paperwork, investigators said Medley told officers he does not “play” with firearms. Officers also reported that Medley at one point claimed the object in his hand was a “king-size Snickers bar,” according to the report. Police said he was taken into custody without any report of further violence.
Medley was booked into jail on charges that include attempted first-degree premeditated murder, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and obstructing justice by tampering with evidence, authorities said. Investigators have said the evidence-tampering allegation is tied to actions taken as Medley fled the gym, though police have not publicly laid out every detail of what they believe was discarded or altered. The attempted murder allegation, police said, stems from witness accounts that Medley aimed the gun at the victim and appeared to try to shoot as people ran for cover.
The case also highlights how quickly everyday disputes can escalate. According to investigators, the argument started with a brief comment about lifting weight and whether someone was using enough weight. In the arrest report summarized by police, the alleged victim said Medley made comments suggesting he came from a place where people “kill people,” and the exchange became tense before Medley walked away. Minutes later, police said, Medley returned and confronted the victim again before pulling the handgun.
Gym members who spoke after the incident described fear and disbelief that someone had brought a gun into a workout space. One member said nobody should have guns at a gym and that people are supposed to be working out, not fighting. Another member said the incident changed the way they felt while exercising, explaining that wearing headphones and listening to music can make it easy to tune out what is happening around them. Those reactions echoed what police described in the immediate aftermath, with witnesses focusing on the sudden shift from a normal day at the gym to a scramble to escape.
Crunch Fitness said it cooperated with law enforcement and that the safety of members and staff is its highest priority. The company said it was grateful for the rapid police response and credited officers and emergency personnel with helping ensure the suspect was quickly apprehended. Police have not announced any changes to security procedures at the gym location, and authorities have not said whether additional safety steps will be required as the case moves forward.
Investigators said the incident remains under review, including the condition of the handgun and why it did not fire. Authorities have not publicly described the make or model of the weapon or whether it malfunctioned, jammed, or was otherwise unable to discharge. Police also have not released details about whether ammunition was in the firearm, though the arrest report indicates witnesses believed the trigger was pulled and that Medley appeared to manipulate the weapon as if attempting to make it work.
Prosecutors will likely need to show intent and the sequence of actions inside the gym as the case proceeds. The charge of attempted first-degree premeditated murder generally involves allegations that a person took steps to kill someone after forming intent, even if the attempt failed. In this case, investigators pointed to the alleged pointing of the gun at close range, witness descriptions of an apparent trigger pull, and the pursuit of the victim as he ran, according to the arrest account. Medley has not publicly entered a plea, and it was not clear Wednesday night whether he had retained an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
Law enforcement officials have not released the name of the alleged victim or other gym members who gave statements, and police have not detailed how many witnesses were interviewed. Authorities said the gym’s surveillance video and membership records played a key role in identifying the suspect quickly. Police also said images of Medley were shared among agencies to assist with the search that ended in Winter Springs.
For residents in Altamonte Springs and nearby communities, the case landed amid broader concerns about violence in public spaces and the risk of armed confrontations over minor disagreements. The gym is located along a busy commercial corridor near other businesses and restaurants, and police said the incident occurred while the facility was open and occupied. Investigators have not said whether Medley was a regular at that location or whether he had any prior disputes there. They also have not said whether the off-duty officer who chased Medley witnessed the confrontation inside the gym or responded after seeing people run.
Medley remained jailed Wednesday as the investigation continued and court records were expected to outline upcoming hearings. Authorities said he was being held without bond. Police said additional information could be released as the case is reviewed by prosecutors and moves through the court system, including any future hearings tied to the charges filed this week.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.