ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies are looking for more witnesses and they're trying to find out if there are any suspects still out there who were involved in the murder of an Orange County sheriff's deputy.
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Deputy Brandon Coates was only 27 years old. He was killed around 8:30 Wednesday night near Orange Blossom Trail along 45th Street. The suspect, a 29-year-old career criminal, was found dead just a few blocks away; he had shot himself.
Detectives interviewed witnesses in the area of the shooting, but so far all they can gather is there may have been a short struggle right before the deputy was shot.
Coates managed to fire his taser, but never had time to call for help before investigators say he was shot twice in the head.
"I just heard two gunshots," an eyewitness told WFTV.
Deputy Brandon Coates 120910 Deputy Brandon Coates Deputy Brandon Coates Detectives are reviewing 911 calls from the scene, seven minutes after Coates, a member of the sheriff's tactical unit assigned to patrol high-crime areas, radioed in that he was making a traffic stop near South Orange Blossom Trail just before 9:00pm.
"There was no indication he was in trouble," Sheriff Jerry Demings said Thursday. "We have listened to the audio tape of the transmission from the traffic stop."
The sheriff's office says that radio call from Coates wasn't his only communication. Investigators say he was on the laptop in his car running tag numbers right before the traffic stop.
Deputies tracked down the suspect's white Chevy pickup less than a mile away and, soon after, found 29-year-old Brandon Lyals nearby, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He'd been out of prison about a year after serving seven years for grand theft and burglary.
Brandon Lyals - Suspect Mug Shot - 120910 Brandon Lyals Mug Shot Despite a search through the night for a possible second suspect, investigators now think Lyals might have acted alone. Now they're asking for eyewitnesses to come forward to help them figure out exactly what happened to the young, four-year deputy.
The sheriff confirmed they recovered a gun and they're running tests to confirm it's the murder weapon. On the phone, the suspect's family told WFTV they didn't think Lyals was someone who could take his own life, but said he was afraid to go back to prison.
The truck driven by Lyals was not stolen, but a rental truck. Lyals' family told WFTV he legally rented the white, late-model Chevy Silverado, but it's not clear which company it came from. The crew cab truck retails for about $26,000. It's now at the sheriff's office impound lot.
FAMILY, DEPUTIES MOURN LOSS OF "HERO"
Coates, 27, had been married for one year and was honored just two days ago. A fellow Orange County deputy put it pretty simply: Brandon Coates was a good guy, a guy who would give you the shirt off his back.
Outside the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the flags fly at half staff. Inside, the hearts are heavy.
"Deputy Sheriff Brandon Coates was indeed a hero," Sheriff Demings said.
Sheriff Demings was somber and subdued as he spoke about the loss of the 27-year-old officer. Coates was a former U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq. He joined the sheriff's office nearly five years ago.
Coates was a member of the sheriff's honor guard and, earlier this week, received a special award for his part in a crackdown on gangs in the eastern part of the county.
"And he was one of the best deputies we have here in this agency," Demings said.
Those close to him say he cared dearly for his wife, Virginia, also an Orange County deputy. The two met at the academy and married just more than a year ago.
Demings said the family that is the Orange County Sheriff's Office is trying to help her through this tragic time; the healing process will be difficult, not only for Coates' family, but his friends and fellow deputies he worked with every day.
"They're all very broken up. We all are. But we move forward," Demings said.
Sheriff Demings says his office is working with the Coates family to make funeral arrangements.
IN THE LINE OF DUTY DEATHS ARE RARE
Law enforcement is a high-risk job, but it's rare for an officer to be killed in the line of duty.
The last local officer shot and killed was Orlando Police Officer Alfred Gordon in October 2007.
In August 2006, Orange County Deputy Michael Callin was run over and killed during a traffic stop.
This year, statewide, there have been four officers killed on duty, including Coates.
Previous Stories: 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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