A former Brevard County sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty to manslaughter after admitting he twice pulled the trigger of a handgun he said he believed was unloaded, killing his off-duty roommate and best friend during a pause in a video-game session, authorities said.
The plea, entered Thursday, comes more than three years after 23-year-old Deputy Austin Walsh was shot in the head inside the Palm Bay home he shared with Andrew Lawson. Prosecutors said Lawson, then 23, pointed the pistol at Walsh while the two were off duty and taking a break from playing “Call of Duty.” Walsh died at the scene. Lawson now faces sentencing later this month. The case drew broad attention because both men were young deputies and close friends, and because investigators said Lawson first aimed and dry-fired the gun once before pulling the trigger again, discharging a live round.
According to investigative records and courtroom statements, the shooting happened late on Dec. 3, 2022. During a break in their gaming, Lawson picked up a pistol he later told police he believed was empty. Standing in a doorway, Walsh looked on as Lawson “jokingly” pointed the weapon and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire. Lawson then pointed the weapon again and squeezed the trigger a second time. This time the gun discharged, striking Walsh in the head and killing him. Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who spoke publicly soon after the death, called it a “clearly dumb and avoidable accident,” and said responding Palm Bay officers found Lawson distraught and Walsh beyond help inside the home.
In court at the plea hearing, Lawson apologized directly to Walsh’s family and described the loss as “soul-breaking,” according to remarks delivered from the stand. “It breaks my soul to know that I took Austin’s future away from him,” he said. Walsh’s brother told local reporters that basic firearm rules were ignored. “You don’t point a firearm at another person without the intent to kill that person,” he said outside the courthouse. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has remembered Walsh as a dedicated deputy who joined the agency as a teenager and served five years before his death. Officials have not alleged that alcohol or drugs played a role, and no one else was hurt.
Affidavits filed after the shooting describe a straightforward scene: two off-duty deputies at home with a personal handgun in a common area. Investigators said Lawson called 911 immediately and cooperated with Palm Bay police. First responders pronounced Walsh dead on the floor within minutes of arriving. Detectives recovered the handgun and documented that Lawson had removed a magazine earlier but failed to account for a round in the chamber before pulling the trigger the second time. The incident report notes that Lawson initially dry-fired the pistol once; the second trigger pull sent a bullet through Walsh’s head. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by a single gunshot wound.
Walsh’s killing rattled the department and the city of about 120,000 on Florida’s Space Coast. Friends and colleagues described Walsh as easygoing and steady under pressure, a deputy who mentored younger explorers before earning his badge. The sheriff said agency members escorted the family during memorials and lined routes for a law enforcement procession. Community members left flowers outside district offices in the week that followed. Within the rank and file, the shooting reignited discussions about off-duty conduct with personal firearms and the simple but critical steps officers are taught from academy class onward, current and former deputies said in interviews.
Legally, Lawson’s plea resolves the question of guilt and moves the case to sentencing. Manslaughter in Florida carries a potential prison term; under the plea, Lawson faces up to seven years, according to statements in court. A judge set the next hearing for Jan. 30, when relatives are expected to speak and lawyers will argue over punishment and conditions that could include incarceration and probation. Prosecutors said Lawson’s immediate 911 call and cooperation were noted in the record, while Walsh’s family emphasized the permanence of the loss. Any firearm possession restrictions for Lawson after release will be addressed at sentencing, along with credit for time previously served.
Neighbors on the quiet cul-de-sac said the December night started like any other until emergency lights filled the block. One nearby resident recalled hearing “a single sharp crack” just before police cruisers arrived. Another remembered Lawson sitting on a curb with his head in his hands as officers moved in and out of the house. At the courthouse this week, a line of deputies hugged Walsh’s parents outside a courtroom. “We miss him every day,” a family friend said softly as she clutched a folded program from his memorial service. “He loved this job.”
As of Saturday, Lawson remained free pending the Jan. 30 sentencing hearing. The judge said a written order would follow arguments over the length of any prison term and post-release supervision. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said it would release a statement after the sentence is imposed and the case is formally closed.
Author note: Last updated January 17, 2026.