Palm Bay Police Release Identities of Four Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting Sunday

incident is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The Palm Bay Police Department released the names of the officers that were involved in the fatal shooting Sunday afternoon.

The officers involved in the officer-involved shooting have been identified as Officer Christopher Morris, who has been with PBPD for 10 years; Officer Ryan Van Note, who has been with PBPD for 6 years; Officer Christina Martin, who has been with PBPD for 4 years; and Officer Joseph Moreno, who has been with PBPD for 7 years.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office announced BCSO Corrections K-9 handler Tyler Smith as the Deputy involved in the shooting incident that happened in the city of Palm Bay on Sunday afternoon.

Corrections Deputy Smith has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since August 2016 and is currently a K-9 handler assigned to the Brevard County Jail.

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

The incident began after a domestic-related incident occurred Sunday and escalated after the armed suspect, 28-year-old Christopher Ruffin, 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 Corrections Deputy Smith, four Palm Bay Police Officers and Ruffin occurred. The Palm Bay officer’s names have not yet been released.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit continues to collect and process evidence in this active and ongoing investigation.

The investigation of this incident is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR UPDATES

ORIGINAL STORY: March 14, 2021: Law Enforcement Officials Provide Update on Officer and Deputy-Involved Fatal Shooting

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, 28-year-old Christopher Ruffin, 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 Ruffin 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 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.

STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY FOR UPDATES

Similar Stories