Venice shooting ruled justifiable
By ANTHONY CORMIER
INQUIRY: Sheriff's deputy who fired fatal shots is cleared to return to duty
The deputy who fatally shot a 20-year-old man in Venice following a late-night prank will return to duty this week after the shooting was deemed justified Thursday.
The State Attorney's Office ruled Deputy Carlos Verdoni was justified in firing two shots that killed Tyler Spann on April 16 after Verdoni said Spann tackled him and went for his gun. The fight happened after Spann and a friend banged on Verdoni's door and ran, and Verdoni grabbed his gun and chased the pair down.
The investigation focused on the shooting, which prosecutors ruled was a "justifiable use of deadly force" based on testimony from Verdoni and an eyewitness who said he saw Spann defy commands to stay still and instead begin fighting with Verdoni.
Sheriff Tom Knight says the agency will not conduct an internal affairs review of Verdoni's actions, including how he grabbed his duty pistol and chased the men while wearing only a T-shirt, shorts and sandals.
The Sheriff's Office said earlier it would conduct an internal inquiry, but Knight said Thursday that the criminal investigation showed that Verdoni acted properly that night.
"Everything he did was appropriate that night," Knight said. "But it ended tragically."
Verdoni told investigators that Spann said "you're gonna have to kill me" before and during the April 16 scuffle, and that he shot Spann twice because the former high school wrestler kept swinging and grabbing at his gun even after the first shot was fired into him. Spann died at the scene of the shooting on Lisbon Street in Venice. Tests showed Spann had been drinking alcohol that night.
The Sheriff's Office on Thursday released details of its investigation, including interviews with witnesses, the autopsy report, 911 calls and forensic documents.
It shows that at least two people -- an eyewitness and a Venice police officer who was on the phone with Verdoni at the time -- heard the deputy order Spann to the ground.
Verdoni says Spann shouted an expletive and then lunged at him, causing the deputy to stumble in his sandals and smack his head on the ground.
Verdoni says Spann straddled him and punched, reaching for the weapon with his right hand. Verdoni says he fired once and Spann continued attacking. A second round sent Spann spiralling backward.
The interviews also show that a key eyewitness, Dr. Ronald Hicks, saw and heard the confrontation from his bedroom window but made inconsistent statements about how the fight started.
During a 911 call, Hicks initially said: "the kid jumped up and attacked the sheriff and the gunshots went off."
But during an interview with sheriff's officials a few hours later, Hicks told a detective that Spann stood up slowly and did not make any movements toward Verdoni.
"He really didn't move," Hicks said. "He just got up and turned. He didn't go either way."
The deputy, Hicks says, walked toward Spann and the fight began with an "embrace." Both men tumbled on the grass and pavement before Verdoni fired his weapon.
Verdoni told the first officer on scene, from Venice: "We had a struggle. He went for my gun. I had to shoot him."
The shooting has raised questions among some in Venice, particularly those who knew Spann from school or his job at Publix and feel he was not the type of guy to start a fight with an armed deputy.
"Justice will be served one day," said Chris Hayes, Spann's friend who was with him that night.
Members of the Spann family would not comment on the report Thursday.
Postings to Spann's Facebook page combine outrage about Thursday's ruling with mournful messages to Spann, who would have turned 21 next month.
One friend posted Gov. Charlie Crist's address and phone number and told people to write and push for an investigation.
"We are not done fighting yet," wrote Ariel Young, who went on to write about how much she misses Spann.
"Ty, no one could single-handedly unite a whole community like you have. I don't think a day goes by when a couple hundred people don't mention your name or think about you."
Knight, who grew up in Venice, says he has taken his share of criticism since the shooting. Neighbors who once talked to him regularly now give him the cold shoulder, he said.
"The Venice community isn't used to this," he said. "They don't see this type of incident. They just had their first murder in 10 years.
"But I hope that we can come together and begin to heal."
Staff writer Kim Hackett contributed to this report.