Speeding driver dies after shooting himself during traffic stop in Palm Bay, police say

PALM BAY, Fla. — Palm Bay police said two officers had a strange and scary moment Wednesday after pulling over a driver for speeding.

Officers said the driver fatally shot himself while they were writing him a ticket.

The shooting happened inside of a shopping plaza along Palm Bay Road near I-95.

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Officers said they were inside a patrol car when they heard the gunshot.

Instead of pulling over on Palm Bay Road, the driver pulled into a parking lot and stopped, officers said.

The traffic stop happened about 10:20 a.m. after police said the man was speeding, officers said.

Police didn't seem to notice anything unusual about the driver and they proceeded to write a speeding ticket when something terrible happened.

“During the traffic stop the officers were at their assigned vehicle when they heard a single gunshot. They moved forward toward the vehicle and observed the lone occupant of the vehicle,” said Sgt. Michelle Page with the West Melbourne Police Department. “The driver had a self-inflicted [gunshot wound] to the head.”

Officers said the victim was still alive, and was transported to a hospital, but did not survive.

Police have not released his name and do not know why the driver took his own life.

“All we are aware of is that the violation was for speed and there was some criminal traffic violations in the past for this individual,” Page said.

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