Note: this story, which first appeared in the news in February 2017, is being republished.

There will be no criminal charges brought against the bystander who shot and killed a man who was assaulting a Florida sheriff’s deputy.

According to the Daily Mail, Ashad Russell has been officially cleared by the State Attorney’s Office.

When Russell, 35, witnessed Edward Strother assaulting Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Dean Bardes on Interstate 75, he intervened to save the deputy.

Strother had been stopped by bardes for speeding. After that, Strother, 53, allegedly attacked Bardes, punching him repeatedly and pinning him to the road.

When Russell got out of his car to assist, he was armed and had a concealed weapons license. Apparently noticing that Russell was armed, Bardes gave him the order to shoot Strother. Strother was repeatedly told to get off Barnes, but Russell killed him by shooting him three times in the neck.

Russell was commended by Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott in a Facebook post:

Russell was “justified in using deadly force when he reasonably believed that the use of such force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great harm,” the SAO concluded after reviewing the case.

bodily harm to Deputy Dean Bardes or to stop Deputy Bardes from being the victim of an impending forcible felony. Based on the information provided by this investigation and the relevant legislation, our agency review is closed, and this office will not take any further action.

The Washington Post mentioned the dissenting opinion expressed by the deceased’s brother, Louis Strother. He questioned, “They’re calling him a good Samaritan?” “Did my brother have a gun?”

Sources: The Washington Post and the Daily Mail

The decision to not press criminal charges against Ashad Russell, the passerby who shot and killed a man attacking a Florida sheriff’s deputy, has been officially confirmed by the State Attorney’s Office. The incident occurred on Interstate 75 when Russell witnessed Edward Strother assaulting Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Dean Bardes. Strother had been stopped for speeding, but he turned violent and began punching and pinning Bardes to the ground.

Russell, who was armed and had a concealed weapons license, intervened when he saw Bardes in danger. Bardes, recognizing that Russell was armed, gave him the order to shoot Strother. Despite repeated warnings, Strother refused to stop his attack, and Russell ultimately shot him three times in the neck, resulting in his death.

Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott commended Russell for his actions in a Facebook post, stating that Russell was justified in using deadly force to prevent imminent harm to Deputy Bardes. After reviewing the case, the State Attorney’s Office concluded that Russell’s actions were necessary to prevent harm to Bardes and that no further action would be taken in the matter.

However, there has been dissent from the deceased’s brother, Louis Strother, who questioned the characterization of Russell as a “good Samaritan.” He raised concerns about whether his brother was armed at the time of the incident. Despite these concerns, the official decision stands, and Russell will not face criminal charges for his actions.

The case has garnered significant attention and debate, with many praising Russell for his quick thinking and bravery in coming to the aid of Deputy Bardes. The outcome of this incident serves as a reminder of the split-second decisions that individuals may face in high-pressure situations and the potential consequences of those actions.