Deputy shoots, kills man in Brevard County neighborhood

Suspect accused of firing into homes, cars

COCOA, Fla. – A gunman accused of opening fire at homes and cars in Cocoa was shot and killed Monday night by a Brevard County deputy.

Cocoa police officials said its department started receiving calls around 9 p.m. about a man firing shots on Carissa Avenue. 

Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey said a deputy, later identified as Nick Worthy, encountered a man who matched the description of the suspect near the intersection of Aurora Street and Thor Avenue.  Ivey said when the man, identified by police as 30-year-old Cedrick Lamont Bishop, noticed it was a sheriff's deputy, and immediately started shooting toward Worthy.

Investigators said Worthy was able to take cover and returned fire.

Bishop was taken to Wuesthoff Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Ivey said the Worthy's cruiser was hit several times by bullets, including two that struck the windshield.

Ivey said Worthy had to take quick action to avoid being killed.

"If you take aim at one of our officers, we're going to take you out of the game," Ivey said during a news conference early Tuesday morning.

Officials said Bishop had an extensive and violent criminal history.  In 2007, Bishop was sentenced to prison on charges of burglary, attempted robbery and cocaine possession.

Bishop was facing charges of aggravated assault, battery and drug possession.

Worthy is a decorated combat veteran who served five tours abroad in both Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantryman and ranger in the U.S. Army.

Worthy has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is routine procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Some of the gunfire hit Sylvia Duncombe's new car and her home.

"I drove it off the lot, 6 miles, first owner, and now this happens," she said, adding that she's thankful her family members weren't outside during the shootout.

"If we were standing in the screen of the porch, the bullets could've got one of us, but God, it was just the grace of God, "she said.

Stay with Local 6 News and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this developing story.


About the Author:

John Ambrogne is an executive producer for News 6 and has been with WKMG-TV since 2012. John graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University and has covered breaking news and major events in Central Florida since 2002.

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