Deputy Faces Murder Charge in Alleged Shooting of Fellow Officer Roommate

In a disturbing turn of events, a former Florida sheriff’s deputy now faces elevated charges in a tragic incident where he allegedly shot his roommate in the head during a game of Call of Duty. Previously charged with manslaughter, 26-year-old Andrew Lawson is now confronting a second-degree murder charge in the death of his friend, 23-year-old Austin Walsh.

The decision to upgrade the charge comes after nearly three months of legal proceedings, during which Lawson’s attempt to plead guilty to manslaughter was rejected by the court. This development follows a January 30 hearing where Judge Michelle Naberhaus of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court decided to pause the sentencing process after listening to four hours of heart-wrenching victim impact statements. At the time, Lawson was on the verge of receiving a seven-year prison sentence but ultimately chose to retract his plea.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Lawson faces the possibility of a life sentence, a considerable increase from the original manslaughter charge. His legal team, as reported by local NBC affiliate WESH, is advocating for mental health rehabilitation in lieu of incarceration, suggesting that Lawson’s mental state should be a factor in the case’s outcome.

This harrowing incident occurred on December 3, 2022, while both men were off-duty from their roles as deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. They were at their shared apartment in Palm Bay, Florida, taking a break from gaming when Lawson allegedly picked up a gun he thought was not loaded. In what he described as a “joking” action, he aimed the weapon at Walsh, who was not only his colleague but also his closest friend.

As Law&Crime previously reported, Lawson and Walsh, who was also a deputy with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, were playing Call of Duty on the night of Dec. 3, 2022, while both were off from work. The two roommates were at their Palm Bay, Florida, apartment and in between gaming sessions when Lawson allegedly picked up a gun that he believed was unloaded and “jokingly” aimed it at the man he later described as his “best friend.”

According to an affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, Lawson pulled the trigger and the gun did not go off. Lawson then allegedly “again pointed the firearm at Walsh and again pulled the trigger,” this time firing a bullet into Walsh’s head, killing him instantly.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey recounted at the time that Lawson was “fully distraught and devastated” when Palm Bay police arrived at the deputies’ home.

Lawson’s next court date is scheduled for April 30.