INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers addressed the public Wednesday night following a deadly deputy-involved shooting in the Vero Beach area, saying the investigation remains in its early stages.
According to the sheriff, the incident began earlier in the day when a woman reported her vehicle stolen around 4 p.m.
The woman told deputies she had lent the car to her son at 10 a.m. to buy drugs to help with withdrawal symptoms. When he failed to return the vehicle, she eventually contacted law enforcement.
At around 8:12 p.m, deputies located the vehicle in the Gifford area using license plate reader technology and believed it was being used in connection with narcotics activity. It was then that deputies attempted to make a traffic stop.
Body camera footage shows the driver initially appeared compliant but then became noncompliant while being detained. Flowers said the driver began reaching into his waistband.
One deputy fired a shot and attempted to take cover. The suspect then reportedly chased the deputy, who fired additional shots. The suspect was struck and later died at the hospital.
The passenger in the vehicle, who was not injured, is cooperating with investigators and is currently being interviewed.
Investigators said the suspect had 23 prior felony arrests and eight convictions. His identity has not been released, but Flowers said he was a 48-year-old man. The passenger also has an extensive criminal record.
The sheriff said it is not yet clear whether the suspect had a weapon. As of Wednesday night, no firearm had been recovered. He acknowledged the possibility that the suspect was under the influence of drugs and suggested the incident may have been a “suicide-by-cop” scenario.
Two male deputies discharged their firearms during the encounter. Both are now on paid administrative leave, per department policy.
Flowers explained that this was a very dangerous situation, and the deputies did an amazing job at handling it.
“When you see the video, I think you’ll feel the same way," Flowers said.
The sheriff’s office plans to release edited body camera and dash camera footage following a review by the State. The sheriff emphasized that the department's Real Time Crime Center monitored the entire situation as it unfolded and that a thorough investigation is now underway.
