Miami Beach Police officers and Florida Highway Patrol Troopers are escorting the “United States Honors Flag” from Miami to Orlando today for Deputy Brandon Coates’ viewing and funeral, a statement from FDLE around 10:00 am, on Monday said.
The “Honors Flag” is currently traveling north on the turnpike and will be handed over to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard today, at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, at 1:45 pm.
Numerous Honor Guards from several agencies will be on hand as the flag arrives to the church. The flag will be displayed, as the family arrives to the church for the viewing. The flag will stay with Deputy Brandon Coates until he is laid to rest.
Deputy First Class Brandon L. Coates loss his life in the line of duty when he was shot twice in the head by a lone gunman, Brandon Lyals, after initiating a traffic stop on December 8th on Orange Blossom Trail near 45th Street. Deputies believe that Lyals was interrupted while transporting stolen items from a burglary when he was stopped by Deputy First Class Brandon Coates. The firearm that Lyals used to shoot Deputy Coates was previously reported stolen. Deputies said that Lyals had a number of magazines on his person.
Lyals, 29, eventually took his own life at a second location.
The Viewing of Deputy First Class Brandon Coates and Public visitation with Coates’ Family will be take place on Monday, December 13th between 3:00pm to 7:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, 3000 S. John Young Parkway.
Funeral Services for the late Deputy First Class Brandon Coates will be held on Tuesday, December 14th at 11:00 am, also at the First Baptist Church of Orlando.
Deputy Coates will be interred at the GlenHaven Memorial Park in Winter Park.
