Suspect, Deputy Identified In Tuesday’s Shooting At Merritt Square Mall Parking Lot

Suspect expected to recover from his wounds

ABOVE VIDEO: Sheriff Wayne Ivey Addresses The Media On Tuesday After The Incident.

ABOVE AUDIO: Phone Calls Regarding Tuesday’s Incident.

ABOVE VIDEO: Police Radio During Tuesday’s Incident

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the deputy and suspect involved in Tuesday’s shooting incident At Merritt Square Mall.

The suspect is identified as 45-year-old William Lee Moon of Winder, Georgia. The deputy is identified as Deputy Marissa Wright, a 2-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, according to Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say the shooting occurred on Tuesday, April 18, when the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of the Merritt Square Mall property, south parking lot at around 1:21 p.m. regarding a suspect who was behaving erratically and had threatened a security guard with a long metal object.

When deputies arrived on scene and were in the process of exiting their vehicles, the suspect emerged from behind a tree and immediately charged Deputy Wright, swinging the metal object in an attempt to strike the deputy.

Deputy Wright reacted to the threat by discharging her firearm.

The suspect was wounded during the incident, however, continued to resist as the deputies attempted to restrain him on the ground.

The suspect was eventually restrained, where emergency medical treatment was provided at the scene and he was transported to a local hospital where he is expected to recover from his wounds, according to Goodyear.

The investigation has determined that Moon, a resident of Georgia, travelled to Florida on April 17, as part of a work crew who was involved in a construction project at the Mall.

While at work yesterday, Moon left the work site after being addressed by his supervisor for acting in an agitated manner.

ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Sheriff’s deputies shot and wounded a man on Tuesday at Merritt Square mall. (Fox 35 video)

Afterward, Moon was observed by a co-worker shortly before the incident in the parking area acting erratically and carrying a metal object.

A member of the Mall Security Team made contact with Moon due to his behavior and was the victim of an aggravated assault with the metal object. After the scene was secured, the object was determined to be a metal fencing post.

Moon has a lengthy Georgia criminal arrest history beginning in 1989 to include arrests for Burglary, Parole Revocation, Probation Violation, Possession of Controlled Substance, DUI, Contempt of Court re: Child Support, Trespass and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.

Deputy Marissa Wright has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since December 2014.

During her employment she has served in Patrol at the South Precinct and East Precinct where she is currently assigned.

As is customary in officer involved shootings, Deputy Wright has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation of this incident is 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.

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