Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey speaks on a deputy-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a suspect near Rockledge. Video by Tim Shortt. Posted Jan. 21, 2018.
A man who was driving erratically and attempting to elude deputies was shot and killed Sunday when a Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputy feared for his life while approaching the stopped car, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.
Cpl. David Turbeville, the deputy involved in the incident at U.S. 1 and Rockledge Drive was not injured. Cocoa resident Ronald Jay Lawson, 46, has been identified as the suspect who led deputies on a pursuit that began a short time before the 6:11 p.m. shooting and later died from his wounds at a nearby hospital.
“This investigation is very early on,” Ivey said during a press conference, noting that the incident began when the suspect was seen driving a compact car at Parkway Drive and U.S. 1 in Melbourne. "Our deputies at that time attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle that was driving erratically."
Stop-sticks were deployed several times, flattening three of the car’s tires, but the suspect continued northbound on U.S. 1. A pit maneuver, used by patrol cars to push vehicles, was used to bring an end to the chase near Rockledge.
As Turbeville approached the driver, he "made an overt action that caused our deputy to fire" into the vehicle, Ivey said. It was not immediately known if the driver had a firearm or how many shots were fired by the deputy.
The Sheriff's Office has not released exactly what "aggressive and overt actions" Lawson showed that caused the deputy to fire. Officers have not said if Lawson was armed at the time of the shooting.
Turbeville, who has been with the Sheriff's Office for just over three years, was placed on administrative leave with pay. He has served as a patrol officer and field training officer before being promoted to corporal in 2016.
The Sheriff’s Office is conducting its own investigation into the shooting. The agency will present its findings to the state attorney’s office for review.
“We police our own,” Ivey said. “We’re very transparent.”
Emily Smart was inside the nearby Goodwill store about half a mile to the north of the incident and said she heard the commotion but did not hear the gunfire.
“I heard sirens and a helicopter,” the 21-year-old said. “And I was here for awhile.”
Nearly a dozen patrol cars were seen parked along U.S. 1 after the shooting, lighting up the area along the roadway with red-and-blue lights as investigators looked over the scene. Deputies also redirected traffic from both north- and southbound lanes of the highway.
Northbound traffic was diverted west onto Viera Boulevard and southbound traffic onto Barnes Boulevard. Travelers were asked to avoid the area and use Murrell Road as a north-south thoroughfare as the investigation continued.
As of midnight, all lanes were reopened.
Reporter Tyler Vazquez contributed to this story.
Scenes of area where officer involved shooting took him place Sunday evening. Video by Tim Shortt. Posted 1/21/18.