Sheriff: 23-year-old Brevard County deputy killed by fellow deputy in accidental shooting - WESH 2 Orlando

1 year ago 61

According to the Brevard County Sheriff, 23-year-old lawman Austin Walsh was killed Saturday by his ain roommate, who is besides a chap deputy, successful an accidental shooting. "This afternoon, I person to basal present and speech astir the nonaccomplishment of 1 of my deputies who I emotion truthful overmuch arsenic the effect of the reckless actions of different 1 of our deputies, who I besides love,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.In a video connected Facebook, Ivey said Walsh and his roommate, Deputy Andrew Lawson, were astatine a location successful Palm Bay aboriginal Saturday greeting erstwhile the shooting occurred."He and Austin had taken a interruption from playing an online crippled with a fig of their friends and were conscionable benignant of lasting astir talking. Lawson was holding a handgun, which helium believed helium had unloaded, and astatine 1 constituent successful their conversation, Lawson, reasoning that the weapon was unloaded, jokingly pointed the weapon successful Austin's absorption and pulled the trigger," Ivey said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incidental and Monday released the apprehension affidavit. The partially redacted papers lays retired what investigators said happened aboriginal Saturday betwixt Walsh and Lawson, who is present charged with manslaughter.The 2 young deputies were off-duty and had been hanging retired and playing an online video crippled called Call of Duty erstwhile they were kicked disconnected owed to inactivity.According to the affidavit, Lawson was handling what helium thought was an unloaded Glock 34 semi-automatic pistol and past “pointed the firearm astatine Walsh and pulled the trigger. The firearm did not spell off.”But that affidavit states Lawson kept going, believing that the weapon was unloaded, “Lawson again pointed the firearm astatine Walsh and pulled the trigger for a 2nd time.”The limb fired 1 changeable hitting Walsh successful the head.Lawson instantly called 911 and cooperated with instrumentality enforcement connected the scene. His complaint was described successful the affidavit arsenic “playing with a firearm causing a azygous changeable to beryllium fired causing the decease of Walsh.”Walsh was pronounced dormant astatine the country successful Palm Bay. Lawson was waiting extracurricular of the residence erstwhile Palm Bay constabulary arrived.He turned himself into jailhouse Sunday, and if convicted, a manslaughter complaint successful Florida tin pb to up to 15 years successful jail."Austin and Andrew were the champion of friends, and Andrew is wholly devastated implicit what happened. Even with that, determination is nary excuse for this tragic and wholly avoidable death,” Ivey said.The sheriff said Walsh had worked arsenic a subordinate of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office since the property of 18, and earlier that, was portion of its Explorers program.Ivey said his bureau is successful mourning. He besides hopes a acquisition is learned from this tragedy."Folks, this unnecessary and wholly avoidable incidental not lone took the beingness of an astonishing young antheral and deputy, but it besides everlastingly changed the beingness of different bully young man, who made an highly mediocre and reckless decision,” Ivey said.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —

According to the Brevard County Sheriff, 23-year-old lawman Austin Walsh was killed Saturday by his ain roommate, who is besides a chap deputy, successful an accidental shooting.

"This afternoon, I person to basal present and speech astir the nonaccomplishment of 1 of my deputies who I emotion truthful overmuch arsenic the effect of the reckless actions of different 1 of our deputies, who I besides love,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.

In a video on Facebook, Ivey said Walsh and his roommate, Deputy Andrew Lawson, were astatine a location successful Palm Bay aboriginal Saturday greeting erstwhile the shooting occurred.

"He and Austin had taken a interruption from playing an online crippled with a fig of their friends and were conscionable benignant of lasting astir talking. Lawson was holding a handgun, which helium believed helium had unloaded, and astatine 1 constituent successful their conversation, Lawson, reasoning that the weapon was unloaded, jokingly pointed the weapon successful Austin's absorption and pulled the trigger," Ivey said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incidental and Monday released the apprehension affidavit.

The partially redacted papers lays retired what investigators said happened aboriginal Saturday betwixt Walsh and Lawson, who is present charged with manslaughter.

The 2 young deputies were off-duty and had been hanging retired and playing an online video crippled called Call of Duty erstwhile they were kicked disconnected owed to inactivity.

According to the affidavit, Lawson was handling what helium thought was an unloaded Glock 34 semi-automatic pistol and past “pointed the firearm astatine Walsh and pulled the trigger. The firearm did not spell off.”

But that affidavit states Lawson kept going, believing that the weapon was unloaded, “Lawson again pointed the firearm astatine Walsh and pulled the trigger for a 2nd time.”

The limb fired 1 changeable hitting Walsh successful the head.

Lawson instantly called 911 and cooperated with instrumentality enforcement connected the scene.

His complaint was described successful the affidavit arsenic “playing with a firearm causing a azygous changeable to beryllium fired causing the decease of Walsh.”

Walsh was pronounced dormant astatine the country successful Palm Bay. Lawson was waiting extracurricular of the residence erstwhile Palm Bay constabulary arrived.

He turned himself into jailhouse Sunday, and if convicted, a manslaughter complaint successful Florida tin pb to up to 15 years successful jail.

"Austin and Andrew were the champion of friends, and Andrew is wholly devastated implicit what happened. Even with that, determination is nary excuse for this tragic and wholly avoidable death,” Ivey said.

The sheriff said Walsh had worked arsenic a subordinate of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office since the property of 18, and earlier that, was portion of its Explorers program.

Ivey said his bureau is successful mourning. He besides hopes a acquisition is learned from this tragedy.

"Folks, this unnecessary and wholly avoidable incidental not lone took the beingness of an astonishing young antheral and deputy, but it besides everlastingly changed the beingness of different bully young man, who made an highly mediocre and reckless decision,” Ivey said.

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