State Attorney’s Office Issues Statement About Officer-Involved Shooting That Resulted in Death of Two Teens in Cocoa
By Space Coast Daily // November 19, 2020
Deputies are on paid administrative leave during the course of the investigation
BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF WAYNE IVEY: As some of you are aware this past Friday two of our Deputies, Jafet Santiago-Miranda and Carson Hendren were involved in an Officer-Involved Shooting that resulted in the deaths of 16-year-old Angelo Crooms and 18-year-old Sincere Pierce, both members of our community. As you can clearly hear and see on the video recording (above), Deputy Santiago–Miranda gives repeated verbal commands, seven to be exact, for the driver of the vehicle to stop the car, however, the driver of the vehicle, 16-year-old Angelo Crooms turns and accelerates the vehicle towards Deputy Santiago-Miranda who was then forced to fire his service weapon in an attempt to stop the deadly threat of the car from crashing into him.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Office of the State Attorney 18th Judicial Circuit released a statement about the officer-involved shooting in Cocoa last week that resulted in the deaths of 16-year-old Angelo Crooms and 18-year-old Sincere Pierce.
“We want to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of these two young men as they struggle to deal with this painful tragedy,” said the Office of the State Attorney 18th Judicial Circuit.
“We understand and share their desire to know what took place, and that every aspect of this incident will be carefully reviewed.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a statement that upon the conclusion of their investigation into the use of deadly force by Brevard County Deputies, they will present their findings to the State Attorney for review.
“The role of the State Attorney in this investigation and in conducting our review is to determine whether a criminal violation of Florida law has occurred, whether any person may be held criminally responsible, and whether such criminal responsibility can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Our commitment to justice is the fundamental and guiding principle in every such decision.
“We have confidence in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct a detailed and thorough investigation and believe it’s appropriate to allow that process to proceed to a conclusion, before offering any further public comment.”
Currently, both deputies involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave during the course of the investigation as is customary in all officer-involved shooting investigations.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey released the following statement about the shooting:
“While there are many other forthcoming details and evidence concerning this tragic incident, such as the recovery of two firearms from the vehicle, the case is currently an active and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement who anticipates that the investigative findings will be presented to the State Attorney’s Office for review within the next 60-90 days.
“In closing, I ask that you keep the family of the two young men in your thoughts and prayers and also our Deputies, as an incident of this magnitude impacts everyone, including our entire community.”
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