Florida Deputy Fatally Shot by Fellow Officer in Accidental Off-Duty Incident

A Florida deputy was killed over the weekend by his roommate in an accidental off-duty incident, NBC News reports.

Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy Austin Walsh, 23, was fatally shot Saturday morning in Palm Bay by fellow deputy Andrew Lawson. According to Sheriff Wayne Ivey, the deadly shooting occurred when Lawson “thinking that the gun was unloaded, jokingly pointed the gun in Austin’s direction and pulled the trigger.”

“Austin and Andrew were the best of friends and Andrew was completely devastated over what happened. Even with that, there is no excuse for this tragic and totally avoidable death,” Ivey said at a Sunday news conference.

He continued, “Folks, this unnecessary and totally avoidable incident not only took the life of an amazing young man and deputy, but it has also forever changed the life of another good young man who made an extremely poor and reckless decision.”

Lawson immediately called 911, but Walsh was dead by the time authorities arrived on the scene. Police say the latter died after sustaining a single gunshot wound.

Lawson was taken into custody on Sunday by agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He faces a manslaughter charge, and is currently being held without bond at the Brevard County Jail.

Walsh joined the sheriff’s office at 18-years-old, following years spent serving as a public safety officer in the department’s Explorers youth program.