Brevard County deputy recovering in hospital after being shot in leg during traffic stop

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County deputy is recovering after he was shot during a traffic stop.

Investigators said that deputy and another returned fire, killing the suspect.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the suspect was a career criminal. Ivey said the suspect was wanted on several warrants and shot at deputies to try to avoid going back to jail.

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“The passenger in the back seat of the car with a two month old baby was contained, was asked to exit the vehicle at which time he immediately exited and produced a short stock rifle when he began firing at the deputy closest to him,” Ivey said.

Ivey said the suspect had 23 felony arrests and 17 misdemeanor arrests for narcotics trafficking, aggravated assault with a weapon robbery with a firearm battery on a law enforcement officer resisting arrest with violence and attempted first degree felony murder.

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The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy was shot in the leg. “Both deputies returned fire in an effort to save their own lives, protect the others at the scene and the two-month-old baby in the rear of the car that was directly in the middle of the shootout,” Ivey said.

The suspect’s name has not been released. The deputy-involved shooting is under investigation.

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The Sheriff’s Office said it plans to release dash camera video soon.

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