Cape Canaveral Man Arrested For Attempted 1st Degree Murder After Trying to Kill Two BCSO Deputies

By  //  February 9, 2021

SUSPECT ID: Jonathan Lee Layton, 35, from Cape Canaveral

Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 35-year-old Jonathan Lee Layton from Cape Canaveral on Monday for attempting to kill two Brevard County Sheriff’s deputies. (BCSO Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 35-year-old Jonathan Lee Layton of Cape Canaveral on Monday for attempting to kill two Deputies during a deputy-involved shooting incident on January 31 in the area of Ridgewood Avenue and Hayes Avenue in Cape Canaveral.

According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Layton was arrested following his release from a local hospital after a warrant was issued by Judge Curt Jacobus.

Layton has been charged with the following:

■ Attempted 1st Degree Murder with a Firearm (two counts)
■ Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon
■ Violation of Injunction for Protection of Domestic Violence
■ Armed Trespass, Resisting an Officer with Violence
■ Resisting an Officer Without Violence
■ Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony and Loitering and Prowling

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office identified the deputies involved in the incident as Corporal Linda McLaughlin and Field Training Officer Kelly Kennedy.

According to Brevard County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tod Goodyear, the preliminary investigation has determined that on January 31, at approximately 3:35 a.m., the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a female on Grant Avenue, Cape Canaveral, saying there was a suspicious person outside of her residence.

Deputies responded, but did not locate anyone and cleared the scene.

“At about 3:48 a.m., in the area of Ridgewood Avenue and Hayes Avenue, Cape Canaveral, a second call was received from a separate homeowner advising that a suspicious person had been observed around their residence,” said Goodyear.

“At approximately 3:53 a.m. Corporal McLaughlin and FTO Kennedy arrived at the location and began looking for the subject. Corporal McLaughlin then observed the suspicious male, who had been concealing himself, and made contact with him.

“The suspect, who was only feet from Corporal McLaughlin, then discharged a firearm at her multiple times. The suspect was then challenged by FTO Kennedy, who responded to the lethal threat with deadly force by discharging his agency issued handgun.

“The suspect, who sustained one non-lethal wound by FTO Kennedy, then fled on foot a short distance before he sustained a single self-inflicted gunshot wound,” said Goodyear.

Goodyear said deputies administered life-saving measure to the suspect while on scene. Brevard County Fire Rescue responded and transported the suspect to a local hospital for medical treatment, where he underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition.

Layton is the respondent to an active domestic violence injunction for protection issued on behalf of the female who made the original call and is also out on bond in reference to felony charges in Indian River County, according to Goodyear.

Corporal Linda McLaughlin has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since October 2010 and has served as a Deputy, Field Training Officer, and Agent. She was promoted to Corporal in July 2017 and is currently assigned to the Cape Canaveral Precinct. (BCSO image)

The investigation is active and ongoing at this time and both deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is customary in all deputy-involved shootings.  Once the investigation is complete, it will be submitted to the State Attorney for review.

Corporal McLaughlin has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since October 2010 and has served as a Deputy, Field Training Officer, and Agent. She was promoted to Corporal in July 2017 and is currently assigned to the Cape Canaveral Precinct.

Field Training Officer Kennedy has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since September 2015. He served as an Animal Care technician prior to his successful completion of the Police Academy, after which he was hired as a Deputy in July 2017.

He was promoted to Field Training Officer in December 2020 and is currently assigned to the Cape Canaveral Precinct.

Prior to their employment with the Sheriff’s Office, Corporal McLaughlin served in the United States Marine Corp and FTO Kennedy was a member of the United States Army.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to please call Agent Don Reynolds of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office at 321-633-8413.

Field Training Officer Kelly Kennedy has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since September 2015. He served as an Animal Care technician prior to his successful completion of the Police Academy, after which he was hired as a Deputy in July 2017. (BCSO image)

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