A former sheriff’s deputy from Florida has confessed to fatally shooting his roommate in the head after what he described as a “joke” involving a loaded gun.
Andrew Lawson, 25, appeared in court on January 15, where he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. During the hearing, he emotionally addressed the family of Austin Walsh, his former best friend, expressing deep remorse for the tragic incident.
“It breaks my soul to know that I took Austin’s future away from him. Because of my actions, not only will I never speak to Austin again, but neither will you,” Lawson lamented, according to a report by Law & Crime.
The unfortunate event took place on December 3, 2022. Lawson recounted that he picked up a gun in their Palm Bay home and, while playing Call of Duty with Walsh, “jokingly” aimed it at him.
Believing the weapon was unloaded, Lawson pulled the trigger twice, tragically striking Walsh in the head and killing him instantly.
Both Lawson and Walsh were deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office at the time of the incident.
Walsh had been serving for five years, starting at the age of 18.
The slain deputy’s mother took the stand Thursday as Lawson pleaded guilty, describing her son as ‘a person who filled every room with energy and fun.’
Austin Walsh, a deputy with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, was tragically shot in the head and killed on December 3, 2022, when his roommate admitted to firing a gun at him while believing the weapon was not loaded
Andrew Lawson, 25, took the stand on Thursday as he pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the death of his former ‘best friend’
Pictured: Andrew Lawson (left) on his Brevard County Sheriff’ Office Swearing in Ceremony on May 4. Lawson is seen standing alongside Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey
In interviews with investigators, Lawson insisted that he thought the gun ‘was not loaded’ and reportedly double checked to make sure as he jokingly threatened Walsh, according to WESH.
‘Get back in the game, or I’ll shoot you,’ he allegedly said.
Lawson then ‘pointed the firearm at Walsh and pulled the trigger,’ and the gun did not go off.
When he did so a second time, the report stated, he fired a bullet into Walsh’s head.
Lawson was ‘distraught’ and ‘devastated’ when first responders arrived, but Walsh ‘succumbed immediately’ to the bullet wound, officials said.
Lawson was arrested and charged with manslaughter with a firearm the following January and was booked at the Brevard County Jail.
Brevard County deputies testified Thursday that Walsh was also known to playfully point his handgun at people.
Click Orlando reported the defendant could face up to seven years in prison or be placed on probation.
Walsh’s mother took the stand Thursday as Lawson pleaded guilty, describing her son as ‘a person who filled every room with energy and fun’
Walsh (pictured) was remembered as ‘a person who filled every room with energy and fun’
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey (pictured) knew both deputies and called the situation one of the ‘toughest’ things he’d done as Sheriff
In 2022, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said announcing Walsh’s death and Lawson’s arrest was one of the ‘toughest’ things he ever had to do.
‘This unnecessary and unavoidable incident not only took the life of an amazing young man and deputy, but it has also changed the life of another good young man who made an extremely poor and reckless decision,’ he said.
‘I personally know both of these kids and they were the best,’ Ivey continued.
‘Austin was passionate about his job and loved the community he so proudly served. And Andrew, he’s a great kid who sadly made a horrible and irresponsible decision that has forever impacted the lives of so many.’
Lawson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 30.
