Brevard deputy killed in off-duty incident in Palm Bay

Eric Rogers, Florida Today
·1 min read
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A Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputy was killed in an off-duty incident in Palm Bay early Saturday, according to a statement from Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Deputy Austin Walsh was killed in an unspecified incident that was being investigated by the Palm Bay Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Ivey said Saturday in a Facebook post.

Palm Bay police Lt. Michael Roberts told FLORIDA TODAY officers responded early Saturday to a home in the 700 block of Damascus Avenue Southwest, near Garvey Avenue in West Palm Bay.

"When officers arrived at the house, they learned that one male had been shot and was found deceased on scene," Roberts said.

Roberts referred further questions to the FDLE, which he said is in charge of the investigation.

Further details about Walsh's death, which Ivey said in the post was "accidental," were not immediately available.

Brevard Sheriff's Office Deputy Austin Walsh was killed Saturday in an off-duty incident in Palm Bay, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a Facebook post. The incident is under investigation. Walsh was 23 years old, Ivey said.
Brevard Sheriff's Office Deputy Austin Walsh was killed Saturday in an off-duty incident in Palm Bay, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a Facebook post. The incident is under investigation. Walsh was 23 years old, Ivey said.

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Walsh was 23 years old, Ivey said. He joined the sheriff's office when he was 18, after participating in the agency's volunteer Explorers program, the sheriff said.

"At this time, we ask that you keep Austin, his family, our agency, and our entire community in your thoughts and prayers as we collectively face the most difficult of times!!" Ivey wrote.

Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or esrogers@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter: @EricRogersFT.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard deputy killed in off-duty incident in Palm Bay, Sheriff Ivey says