Note: This story, originally reported in February 2017, is being republished. The State Attorney’s Office has decided not to file any criminal charges against the bystander who shot and killed a man attacking a Florida sheriff’s deputy.
According to the Daily Mail, Ashad Russell has been officially cleared in the incident.
When Russell, 35, witnessed Edward Strother assaulting Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Dean Bardes on Interstate 75, he intervened to protect the deputy.
Strother, 53, had initially been pulled over by Bardes for speeding. Following the traffic stop, Strother reportedly attacked Bardes, striking him multiple times and pinning him to the ground.
Russell, who was armed and held a concealed weapons permit, exited his vehicle to assist the deputy. Upon noticing that Russell was armed, Bardes instructed him to shoot Strother.
Despite repeated commands for Strother to stop his assault, Russell shot him three times in the neck, resulting in Strother’s death.
