Ronald Jay Lawson, 46, of Cocoa Identified as Decedent In Officer-Involved Shooting Sunday

By  //  January 22, 2018

incident took place on Sunday evening in the area of Parkway Drive and US Highway 1 in Melbourne

ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey held a press conference in regard to a deputy-involved shooting Sunday about 6 p.m. near Viera Boulevard and US Highway 1 in Rockledge.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has identified 46-year-old Ronald Jay Lawson of Cocoa as the decedent involved in Sunday night’s fatal officer-involved shooting incident.

According to BCSO PIO Tod Goodyear, the deputy involved is Corporal David Turbeville, a 3½ year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office.

The incident took place on Sunday evening after a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop at approximately 6:11 p.m. in the area of Parkway Drive and US Highway 1 in Melbourne.

“As the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver pulled away and began traveling north on US 1,” said Goodyear.

“The vehicle continued on without stopping and displayed a driving pattern consistent with that of an impaired driver. Stop sticks were deployed, successfully disabling three tires.

The driver continued northbound to the area of Viera Boulevard and US 1 where the vehicle was stopped.”

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has identified 46-year-old Ronald Jay Lawson of Cocoa as the decedent involved in last night’s fatal officer-involved shooting incident. (BCSO image)

Goodyear said that as deputies made contact with the Lawson, the sole occupant of the vehicle, who displayed aggressive and overt actions that resulted in the deputy responding with deadly force to neutralize the immediate threat. Lawson was transported to a local hospital in serious condition where he succumbed to his injuries.

WATCH: William Woodward of Titusville 2012 Double-Murder Trial is UnderwayRelated Story:
WATCH: William Woodward of Titusville 2012 Double-Murder Trial is Underway

Cpl. Turbeville has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since August 2014, and during his employment, he has served in Patrol as a deputy, Field Training Officer, and was promoted to his current position of Corporal in 2016.

Prior to his employment with the Sheriff’s Office, Cpl. Turbeville was an officer with the Cocoa Beach Police Department for four years. As is customary in officer-involved shootings, Corporal Turbeville has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation of this incident is active and ongoing. Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to please call Agent Troy Deavers of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 321-633-8413.

STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR UPDATES

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY CRIME NEWS