By Ciara Perez, Investigative Journalist
iSkyNews.com
News Brief
- Officer-involved shooting occurred Friday morning at the Spectrum employee parking lot in Auburndale.
- A 20-year-old Spectrum employee and the armed suspect both died at the scene.
- Authorities say the suspect pointed a firearm at responding officers and deputies, prompting them to open fire.
- Investigators say the victim had reportedly been threatened by the suspect the day before.
- The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is leading the investigation.
AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in the employee parking lot of the Spectrum facility located at 1004 U.S. Highway 92 West in Auburndale.
During a media briefing at the scene, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Polk County Sheriff's Office Emergency Communications Center began receiving multiple 911 calls at approximately 9:12 a.m. reporting what was initially described as a suicide. Additional callers reported hearing gunfire.
Responding Auburndale Police officers and Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived to find a 20-year-old woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot. Authorities said the victim worked as a customer service agent for Spectrum. Her identity is not being released under Florida's Marsy's Law protections.
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| Derrick Brathwaite, 39 / PCSO |
Investigators said they also located the suspected gunman, Derrick Brathwaite, 39, lying on the ground while holding a firearm. According to Sheriff Judd, as officers and deputies approached, Brathwaite pointed the weapon at law enforcement, prompting officers to fire their weapons.
Authorities said officers immediately rendered life-saving aid to both Brathwaite and the victim, but both died from their injuries at the scene.
According to investigators, five Auburndale Police officers and two Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies discharged their firearms during the incident. Their identities are being withheld under Marsy's Law for at least 72 hours.
Sheriff Judd said family members told investigators that Brathwaite had allegedly threatened the victim the previous day, telling her he intended to kill her before taking his own life.
Investigators believe the victim left her home in Lake Wales Friday morning, dropped off her 3-year-old son at Brathwaite's parents' home in Waverly, and then drove to work at the Spectrum office. Authorities say Brathwaite fatally shot the victim before law enforcement arrived.
Sheriff Judd also stated that Brathwaite had an extensive criminal history that included 31 felony arrests and 24 misdemeanor charges.
The investigation remains active and includes five separate reviews, including:
- An independent investigation by the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force.
- An internal investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office Administrative Investigations Unit.
- An internal investigation by the Auburndale Police Department.
- Autopsies conducted by the Polk County Medical Examiner.
- A final review by the 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office after all investigative findings are completed.
Authorities emphasized that all information released at this stage is preliminary and may change as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is encouraged to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
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The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting at a Spectrum facility in Auburndale, Polk County. Authorities say an armed suspect fatally shot a woman before pointing a gun at responding officers, who returned fire. Read the latest updates from iSkyNews.com.
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