ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says he will not order increased patrols around the area where a deputy was gunned down.
NEWS CONFERENCES: Demings 12/09 | Demings 12/08 ON THE SCENE: Images From Scene Of Shooting CRIME REPORTS: Map Crimes In Your Neighborhood
27-year-old Brandon Coates lost his life in the line of duty Wednesday night as he worked in the area near South Orange Blossom Trail.
The sheriff says they are not increasing patrols because the area where Deputy Coates was shot has already seen an increase in law enforcement in recent weeks as a result of a special holiday season operation.
Thursday night, several Orange County Sheriff's deputies met for a briefing in a shopping center parking lot near 45th Street and Orange Blossom Trail.
They met just 24 hours before starting the same night shift that their fellow deputy, 27-year-old Brandon Coates, was working when he was gunned down during a traffic stop. And the meeting was just around the corner from where they fatal shooting happened.
"We lost a good deputy," said Sheriff Demings during a Thursday press conference.
Investigators say after some type of struggle outside Coates' patrol car, 29-year-old convicted felon Brandon Lyals shot the deputy in head twice.
Coates was in the tactical anti-crime unit on South Orange Blossom Trail, which is known for its high crime rate. He was also part of a Sheriff's Office initiative called Operation Safe Holiday. The operation targets thieves who target holiday shoppers.
It is still unclear why Coates stopped Lyals, who was driving a rented white Chevrolet pickup truck.
"There was no indication he was in trouble, we have listened to the audio tape of the transmission from the traffic stop," said Demings.
Investigators say Lyals was found in an apartment complex near where the deputy was gunned down with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
However, WFTV has learned Lyals may have accidentally shot himself as he tried to climb a wall to get away. Lyals' family told Channel 9 they did not think he would hurt himself, seeming to believe the accidental shooting theory.
The investigation's focus now is on finding out exactly what happened to Coates and why Lyals would have opened fire.
Even while dealing with the tragedy of losing one of their own, Sheriff Demings promised his deputies will remain vigilant in cracking down on crime along Orange Blossom Trail.
Operation Safe Holidays continues until January.
The sheriff's office is still asking the public for tips and would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the fatal shooting.
On Friday, the Sheriff's Office could release the 911 calls that came in after the fatal shooting.
Previous Stories: 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
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