AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is investigating an officer-involved shooting in the Spectrum parking lot in Auburndale on Friday morning.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said around 9 a.m., 911 dispatch received a call from a Spectrum parking lot employee about a suicide in the employee parking lot.
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Auburndale Police responded to the area along with PCSO deputies and found a 20-year-old woman on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. They also found a man, identified as Derrick Brathwaite, on the ground with a firearm.
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Sheriff Judd said officers approached, and Brathwaite pointed the gun at officers and deputies, who shot him.
“As they approach him, he manipulates the gun and pointed at them, and all seven of the officers and deputies shoot him,” said Judd.
Judd said the woman had a relationship with Brathwaite and they had a 3-year-old child. Family members told investigators Brathwaite had threatened the victim yesterday and said he was going to kill her and kill himself.
Investigators said the woman dropped off their son at Brathwaite's home Friday morning before driving to work, where she was confronted by Brathwaite.
“He murdered the mother of a beautiful three year-old child today and shot himself and then pointed the guns at us so we could finish the job that he started on himself,” Judd said.
Brathwaite's criminal history includes 31 prior felonies and 24 misdemeanor charges, PCSO said.
Spectrum sent a statement to Tampa Bay 28 via email on the incident, saying the following:
“We are saddened by the tragic incident that occurred this morning outside our Auburndale, Florida, facility. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted. The safety and well-being of our employees remains our top priority. The facility was secured while law enforcement responded. We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are providing support to our employees. As this remains an active investigation, we are referring additional questions to the appropriate authorities.”
Because of changes to Marsy's Law passed during the last legislative session, the names of the officers involved cannot be released for at least 72 hours.
The two deputies and five Auburndale officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
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