23-Year-Old Florida Deputy 'Jokingly' Shot, Killed By Fellow Deputy Roommate

A 23-year-old off-duty Florida deputy has been "jokingly" shot and killed by his roommate, a fellow deputy, in their Palm Bay residence.

In a Facebook Live video, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey explained the details of the events that led to the death of Deputy Austin Walsh on Dec. 3.

Ivey said Walsh and Andrew Lawson were taking a break from playing video games with friends at their residence on Damascus Avenue. Lawson picked up a gun at some point, assuming it was unloaded.

Lawson then "jokingly" aimed the gun at Walsh and pulled the trigger, WFTV reported.

"Lawson was holding a handgun, which he believed he had unloaded and at one point in their conversation, Lawson, thinking that the gun was unloaded, jokingly pointed the gun in Austin's direction and pulled the trigger," Ivey said, according to WESH.

Lawson immediately called 911 after the incident and told the dispatchers he accidentally killed his roommate, Ivey added.

When Palm Bay Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they were met by a "distraught" Lawson. They found Walsh lifeless.

Ivey also disclosed that only a single round was fired and the shooting appeared "accidental." He then described the incident as an "extremely dumb and avoidable accident," according to WFLA.

"Austin and Andrew were the best of friends and Andrew is completely devastated over what happened," the sheriff said, as per WESH. "Even with that, there's no excuse for this tragic, avoidable death."

Lawson fully cooperated in the investigation and was taken into custody for manslaughter Sunday.

"Andrew Lawson was taken into custody on a no-bond warrant by agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for manslaughter," Ivey noted.

Ivey described Walsh as "a treasured member" of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) family.

"Deputy Austin Walsh was 23 years old and was a treasured member of our BCSO Family," Ivey wrote on the Facebook page of the sheriff's office. "Austin served as a member of our agency since he was 18 and prior to that served for several years as a member of our Explorers program."

An investigation into the incident has been launched.