Law Enforcement Officials Provide Update on Officer and Deputy-Involved Fatal Shooting
By Space Coast Daily // March 15, 2021
identities of decedent and involved officers and deputy have not yet been released
POLICE: Incident initiated after a domestic-related incident occurred Sunday and escalated after the armed suspect was located by the Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, Sheriff’s Office K9 personnel and Palm Bay Police Officers
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Members of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Palm Bay Police Department searched for an armed subject considered a suspect in a Palm Bay domestic violence and possibly a Martin County death investigation early Sunday afternoon.
In a press conference conducted at the Palm Bay Police Department Sunday evening, Palm Bay Police Chief Nelson Moya and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Doug Waller outlined the search that ultimately led to an officer and deputy-involved shooting Sunday afternoon.
The incident initiated after a domestic-related incident occurred Sunday and escalated after the armed suspect was located by the Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, Sheriff’s Office K9 personnel and Palm Bay Police Officers.
As a result, an armed altercation involving a Sheriff’s Corrections Deputy, four Palm Bay Police Officers and the armed suspect occurred.
During the press conference, Chief Moya spoke about the dangers associated by law enforcement personnel every day and praised the support of the Sheriff’s Office who responded to assist in the search of the suspect.
This was the second consecutive weekend there was an officer-involved shooting in Palm Bay.
Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Tod Goodyear said the incident was captured by the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit video recording system.
Chief Moya advised that the Sheriff’s Office and the Palm Bay Police Department asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an investigation into the use of deadly force after the subject was pronounced deceased.
Chief Moya advised the identities of the decedent and the involved officers and deputy were not being released at this time.
Chief Deputy Waller thanked the support of the Palm Bay citizens who were providing real-time updates of the subject as the incident was unfolding.
Chief Moya advised he could not comment on the status of the Martin County death investigation and the subject could be possibly connected to that investigation. PIO Goodyear advised that Martin County investigators were on scene paralleling the investigation.
Sheriff’s Office PIO Goodyear forwarded all questions and comments to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, advising that FDLE would submit their investigative findings to the State Attorney’s Office for review once completed,
Throughout the evening, Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigators were processing evidence on Karney Avenue, Palm Bay and at Holmes Regional Medical Center.
PIO Goodyear advised that it is a common protocol for the Sheriff’s Office to conduct crime scene processing and forensic investigative efforts for FDLE in Brevard County.
He said that both FDLE and the Palm Bay Police Department specifically requested the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit responded to assist.
Chief Moya advised that the involved officers and deputy were placed on Administrative paid leave pending the investigation. This is a common practice in officer-involved shootings incidents.
Both the BCSO and Palm Bay Police Department advised the investigation was ongoing with updates to be provided as the investigation develops.
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