Rep. Corrine Brown requests DOJ investigate Torey Breedlove shooting

ORLANDO, Fla. — A central Florida congresswoman is asking the Department of Justice to investigate the deadly deputy-involved shooting of a suspected car thief in Orange County.

An investigation showed 10 deputies fired about 137 rounds into Torey Breedlove's SUV in 2010.

They said Breedlove tried to run them over, but a federal judge ruled the death was more like an execution.

Eyewitnesses said Breedlove tried to surrender, and deputies opened fire without warning.

Eyewitness News at 10's Kenneth Craig talked to the family's attorney.

"Shots (are) not something that most people experience, and under the facts of this case, is unthinkable and unacceptable," said Breedlove family attorney John Mallah.

The shooting sparked outrage in the community, because some of the dozens of shots that were fired ricocheted into nearby apartments where children were asleep.

A grand jury had cleared nine deputies involved in the killing.

The shooting may have happened three years ago, but WFTV obtained a May 17 letter Tuesday from Florida 5th District Rep. Corrine Brown demanding the U.S. Department of Justice launch an investigation.

The renewed push for justice comes weeks after a federal judge called the shooting an execution rather than an attempted arrest.

In the letter, Brown wrote that she is "troubled by reports of excessive police gunfire" and "received numerous inquiries from concerned constituents."

Brown said her office had recently been inundated with calls from concerned citizens.

Mallah, who filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Breedlove family, said Tuesday over the phone that the FDLE investigation into the shooting was sloppy.

He said he welcomes federal authorities taking a close look.

"The Department of Justice, I think, has more empowerment to change the policies and procedures that led to the occurrence of this act and correct it for future acts," Mallah said.

Channel 9 reached out to the Sheriff's Office about this case. Officials said they can't comment because the lawsuit still hasn't been settled in federal court.

WFTV