Florida fire chief charged with murder after ‘dispute’ with business owner
A fire chief in Florida allegedly shot and killed a man over a fight about unpaid debts, according to police.
Brian Keith Easterling, the 52-year-old chief of the volunteer fire department in Baker, has been charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of a 63-year-old shop owner, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
Surveillance footage shows Easterling walking into the Pensacola business Sunday, then shooting the man, who has not been publicly identified, according to police.
The victim allegedly owed Easterling money from “prior business deals” and the two had a “dispute.”
Easterling was arrested by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office at home in Holt Sunday night and is awaiting extradition to Escambia County.
He has also been suspended from the Baker Fire Department.
