The defendant responsible for the murder of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Brian LaVigne was sentenced to 45 years in Florida state prison.
32-year-old Travis Garrett, who was paralyzed as a result of the crash, pleaded guilty to the following charges: Second degree murder, fleeing to elude high speed (serious bodily injury or death), battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and criminal mischief. Second degree murder is defined as the unlawful killing of another person without premeditation, but with a depraved mind and disregard for human life.
The crime occurred on January 11, 2021, when deputies responded to calls from neighbors that Garrett was naked and throwing furniture outside of his apartment in Brandon near Tampa.
The Central Florida defendant fled from deputies in his vehicle and crashed into the apartment’s gates. Garrett’s vehicle was equipped with a dashboard camera, which then showed him driving down Lumsden Road and accelerating at a high rate of speed into Sgt. LaVigne’s vehicle as he sat at a stop sign. LaVigne was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Sgt. LaVigne’s family read victim impact statements to the court. Sgt. LaVigne was only hours away from retirement when he was killed. His wife told the court that the defendant ripped away the years they had left together after he spent three decades serving and protecting his community. His daughter, also a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy, says she lost her mentor, her hero, and her best friend. The family told the court they wanted the plea to avoid what would have been a painful trial for them.
“This senseless crime robbed a family of a tremendous father and husband who deserved a long and happy retirement with the family he built,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez. “While this sentence can never bring Sgt. LaVigne back, it ensures this defendant will spend the majority of his life behind bars while allowing the victim’s family a chance at healing without a lengthy trial. Sgt. LaVigne died a hero and selflessly served his community until his last day. His life and legacy will never be forgotten.”
“While there is no sentence that can ever truly account for the extraordinary life Travis Garrett took, today’s sentencing delivers a measure of justice for Sgt. Brian LaVigne’s family, his brothers and sisters in uniform, and every citizen whose life he touched,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Sgt. LaVigne was a devoted husband, father, and public servant. His life was cut short while doing what he had done for 30 years, protecting this community with courage and compassion, and the pain of his loss is immeasurable. Though more than four years have passed, his legacy continues to live on in the hearts of those who knew him and in the community he selflessly served.”
