Deputy Brandon Coates, 27, who was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday night, was “a hero and had provided invaluable service” , Sheriff Jerry Demings said at a new conference on Thursday morning.
Sheriff Jerry Demings said that Deputy Coates was one of the best in the Agency. It was only two days prior, on December 7th, Coates had received a special award for his role in helping to take down a gang operation associated with violent crime, murder, illegal firearms and narcotics in east Orange County, Demings said.
It is now known that, just prior to when Deputy Coates was murdered by a lone gunman, he had been very active up to the point of the traffic stop on Orange Blossom Trail and 45th Street. Deputy Coates had been running tags and undertaking other police work in his cruiser.
There is evidence which suggests that Deputy Coates deployed his taser on the suspected gunman, Brandon Lyals, although Demings said it was not entirely clear what was occurring at the time. Demings said that while Deputy Coates did radio about the traffic stop, based on the audio, he gave no indication that he might have been in trouble nor did he ask for back-up. Lyals shot Deputy Coates twice in the head and fled the scene.
Lyals, 29, subsequently took his life at a second location where his vehicle was found and deputies believe, although they do not rule out a second suspect, that he acted alone.
Demings reiterated that the agency is very broken-hearted over the loss of Deputy Coates, who was very popular and a member of the honor guard.
“Deputy Coates provided invaluable service and would not have been assigned to a special enforcement unit if he were not a high performer,” Demings said. “We are all very broken up, but we move forward.”
Demings expressed his appreciation for the numerous phones calls that the Agency had received from local and state officials, including from the Governor’s office and for the outpouring of support from the many well wishers.
Deputy Coates leaves behind his wife, Deputy Virgina Wright Coates, 28 years, who has been with the Agency for about four and-a-half years. The couple had been married for about one year.
This was truely a very sad situation. I watched the services for him. There’s just no words for this situation. I wish there was something I could do to help.