BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A Brevard County deputy who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the fatal 2022 shooting of his roommate and fellow deputy was expecting to be sentenced Friday, but in a turn of events, a judge decided not to accept his plea agreement.
Andrew Lawson was charged with manslaughter in January 2023, a month after the deadly shooting of Deputy Austin Walsh, 23. According to an arrest affidavit, Lawson, who was off-duty, “jokingly” pulled the trigger twice before the gun fired and killed Walsh.
Lawson pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this month but was not sentenced because testimony did not conclude before 5 p.m. that day.
“It breaks my soul to know that I took Austin’s future away from him, and because of what I did, not only will I never be able to talk to Austin again, but you guys won’t be able to, either,” Lawson testified.
On Friday, Judge Michelle Naberhaus was expected to sentence Lawson to up to seven years in prison or just put the ex-deputy on probation, but the judge decided to reject the plea after a second emotional day in court.
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At the continuation of Lawson’s plea hearing and sentencing from January 15, the state called a firearms instructor from the sheriff’s office to the stand.
Commander Alex Herrera said he trains every new deputy not to point a gun at someone unless they intend to use it.
“We treat that as the golden rule and something that’s established from day 1,” Herrera said.
After Judge Naberhaus turned down the plea, your Palm Bay Community Correspondent, James Sparvero, asked Lawson’s defense attorney, Alan Landman, if he was surprised.
“In my 39 years, this never happened,” Landman said. “The judge indicated that she has never done this in any case, either. So, that should tell you.”
It’s unclear how much longer it will take to resolve the case.
If Lawson goes to trial, he faces up to 30 years in prison on his charge of manslaughter with a firearm.
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When the incident happened in 2022, the Palm Bay Police Department received a 911 call from Lawson, who said he “accidentally shot his roommate and needed help,” according to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
The roommates had taken a break from playing “Call of Duty,” a first-person shooter video game, after being kicked off due to inactivity and were standing around talking when Lawson took out a Glock 34 9mm semi-automatic pistol, an affidavit shows.
According to the affidavit, Lawson believed the gun was unloaded and “jokingly” pointed it at Walsh, pulling the trigger. The gun did not go off, so Lawson manipulated the slide back before pulling the trigger for a second time, the sheriff’s office said.
This time, a single shot was fired and struck Walsh in the head, killing him, according to deputies.
Lawson’s family said a trained law enforcement officer fooling around with a gun is no accident.
“You don’t point a firearm at another person without the intent to kill that person,” brother Alec Walsh said.
Lawson immediately called 911 and was “distraught” and “devastated” when first responders arrived, Ivey said. Lawson cooperated fully with the investigation, which was conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Palm Bay Police Department.
Ivey said Lawson and Walsh were best friends and roommates.
The sheriff said after the shooting that Walsh had been with the agency since he was 18.
“Austin was such a great kid, and our hearts are broken over his loss. He will be deeply missed by our agency, our community and our prayers are with his family,” Ivey said at the time.