A former sheriff's deputy in Florida has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after shooting his roommate and fellow officer in the head during what he described as a 'joke' that went catastrophically wrong.
A Deadly Moment During a Video Game
Andrew Lawson, aged 25, entered his guilty plea on January 15, breaking down in tears as he addressed the family of his victim, Austin Walsh, whom he called his former 'best friend'. The incident occurred on December 3, 2022, at their shared residence in Palm Bay. The two men, both serving as deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, were playing the video game Call of Duty when Lawson picked up a firearm.
Lawson told the court he believed the gun was not loaded. He claimed to have double-checked before jokingly pointing it at Walsh and threatening, 'Get back in the game, or I'll shoot you.' He then pulled the trigger twice. The first pull resulted in a click, but the second discharged a bullet into Walsh's head, killing him instantly.
Emotional Courtroom Apology and Victim Impact
During the plea hearing, Lawson offered a profound apology to Walsh's family. 'It breaks my soul to know that I took Austin's future away from him,' he stated, according to reports. 'Because of what I did, not only will I never be able to talk to Austin again, but you guys won't be able to, either.'
Walsh's mother gave a victim impact statement, describing her son as 'a person who filled every room with energy and fun.' Austin Walsh had begun his service with the sheriff's office at the age of 18 and had served for five years at the time of his death.
Legal Repercussions and Institutional Response
Lawson was arrested and charged with manslaughter with a firearm in January 2023. He now awaits his sentencing hearing, scheduled for January 30, where he could face up to seven years in prison or be placed on probation.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who knew both men, called the announcement of Walsh's death and Lawson's arrest one of the 'toughest' duties of his career. He described both as 'good young men,' noting that Lawson had made an 'extremely poor and reckless decision' with irreversible consequences.
Testimony during the hearing revealed that Walsh himself had been known to playfully point his handgun at people, underscoring a casual culture around firearm handling that ended in tragedy. First responders reported finding Lawson 'distraught' and 'devastated' at the scene, but Walsh had succumbed to his wound immediately.
