No Charges for Armed Bystander Who Fatally Shot Man Attacking Florida Deputy
A Florida man who shot and killed an assailant attacking a sheriff’s deputy on a busy interstate will not face criminal charges, officials confirmed.
The State Attorney’s Office has officially cleared Ashad Russell, 35, after concluding he acted in defense of law enforcement during a violent roadside struggle, the Daily Mail reports.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Interstate 75, where Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Dean Bardes had pulled over Edward Strother, 53, for speeding. Things quickly escalated when Strother allegedly pinned the deputy to the pavement and began punching him repeatedly.
Russell, who holds a concealed weapons permit, happened to be driving by and witnessed the brutal assault. He stopped, exited his vehicle, and drew his weapon. According to investigators, Bardes—badly overpowered—pleaded with Russell to intervene.
After issuing several warnings to Strother to stop the attack, Russell fired three shots, striking Strother in the neck and killing him.
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott later praised Russell’s actions in a Facebook post, calling him a hero.
Following a full investigation, prosecutors determined that Russell was “justified in using deadly force” under Florida law, citing his belief that Deputy Bardes was at risk of “imminent death or great bodily harm.”
However, not everyone agrees with the decision.
Louis Strother, the attacker’s brother, expressed outrage over the ruling. Speaking to The Washington Post, he questioned the use of the term “good Samaritan,” asking, “Was my brother armed?”
While the case has now been closed by authorities, the incident continues to stir debate over civilian intervention, self-defense laws, and the split-second decisions made in life-or-death situations.
Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in February 2017.