Note: This story, originally reported in February 2017, is being republished.
Ashad Russell, the bystander who shot and killed a man attacking a Florida sheriff’s deputy, will not face criminal charges, officials have confirmed.
The decision, made by the State Attorney’s Office, clears the 35-year-old after a high-profile incident that unfolded on Interstate 75. Russell intervened when he saw Edward Strother violently assaulting Deputy First Class Dean Bardes of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
According to reports, Russell drew his legally-owned firearm and shot Strother, ultimately saving the deputy’s life. The case drew national attention at the time, with many hailing Russell’s actions as heroic.
