Brevard Deputy Arrested After Another Deputy Is Accidentally Shot To Death

New details now available in an arrest warrant, show that the off duty Brevard County deputy that was fatally shot by his best friend… another deputy… died when the other deputy ‘jokingly’ pulled the gun’s trigger twice before the fatal shot rang out, taking the life of 23 year old Deputy Austin Walsh. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey called the shooting “an extremely dumb and totally avoidable accident” in a video posted on social media. Now, 23 year old Deputy Andrew Lawson faces manslaughter charges after making his first appearance in court Monday. Investigators say the two men… who were roommates… were taking a break from playing an online video game and as they stood around talking, Lawson took out what he believed was an unloaded Glock 9-mm and jokingly pointed it at Walsh, and pulled the trigger. The gun didn’t fire, so Lawson pulled back the slide and pulled the trigger again. That time it did fire, and the bullet hit Walsh in the head… killing him. Walsh had been with the Sheriff’s Office since he was 18. Lawson was sent to the Brevard County Jail and initially was held without bond. On Monday during his court appearance, his bond was set at $15,000 and he was permitted to relocate outside of Brevard County and move in with his mother. He must forfeit all of his firearms. If convicted of manslaughter, he faces up to 15 years in prison.