ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — It was an unusual show of emotion from the men and women who keep our streets safe. For the first time Friday, the friends of fallen Deputy Brandon Coates spoke publicly about the loss (watch raw video | images).
FRIENDS TALK: Watch Unedited Video | See Images SHOOTER'S COUSIN: Interview With WFTV NEWS CONFERENCES: Demings 12/09 | Demings 12/08 ON THE SCENE: Images From Scene Of Shooting
Coates, 27, was killed Wednesday night during a fight with a suspect in Orange County.
Orange County deputies who worked with Brandon Coates each day sat nearly motionless Friday morning, their badges wrapped with a black ribbon. Many were too upset to speak, but some of Coates' friends were able to put their thoughts on paper and read them.
"Brandon died doing what he loved best, protecting people from evil," Deputy Robert Ricks said.
Brandon was married to Orange County Deputy Virginia Coates. She wasn't at the press conference, so Deputy Brian Hummel stepped in for her.
"She asked me to issue this statement: 'As a deputy's wife, this is the unbelievable moment that you always dread and pray will never come,'" Hummel read. "'From the first time we met in training, I knew he was the one for me because of his fun-loving and life-giving personality.'"
Deputyfriendstalk121010-1 Deputyfriendstalk121010-1 FRIENDS TALK: Unedited Video | Images As close friends and family continue to mourn, the sheriff's office continues its investigation.
Friday, Sheriff Jerry Demings confirmed seconds after 29-year-old Brandon Lyals shot and killed Coates, Lyals intentionally shot and killed himself as he was being surrounded. Additionally, detectives firmly believe Lyals was acting alone and there never was a second suspect.
"You should know that this man, who gave everything for his community, was the kind of man we should all strive to be," Ricks said.
Investigators say they may never know why Coates pulled over Lyals near the intersection of Holden and OBT; when he called in the traffic stop, he didn't specify the reason for the stop.
Friday, the sheriff's office announced that investigators believe Lyals was interrupted while transporting stolen items from a burglary when he was stopped by Coates, but detectives aren't sure where the items came from.
N'Twanya Curry is Lyals' cousin and says she can only speculate as to why he shot and killed Deputy Brandon Coates and then turned the gun on himself.
"I think he was scared, you know. Number one, he don't want to go back to jail," she told WFTV (watch full interview). "Our family hearts go out to them too, because, like i said, it's a loss on both ends."
Both Deputy Brandon Coates and suspect Brandon Lyals, 29, were young men in their late 20s, but they lived very different lives.
Coates served as a Marine during two tours in Iraq. He had been with the sheriff's office for nearly four and a half years.
Lyals had been in and out of jail since 2000. He served seven years on grand theft and burglary charges. He was released from prison a year ago.
Funeral arrangements are still being worked out.
Previous Stories: December 10, 2010: Investigators Unsure How Suspected Cop Killer Died December 9, 2010: Sheriff: Deputy Fired Taser Before Being Shot In Head December 9, 2010: Slain Orange Co. Deputy Identified; Shooter Acted Alone December 9, 2010: Deputy Killed During Traffic Stop; One Suspect Dead
WFTV
