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Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley and Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Robert Bage held a joint news conference today to provide additional information on a FWB PD homicide case and the OCSO’s subsequent officer-involved fatal shooting of the suspect December 17th.
The FWBPD responded around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to a shooting outside a business at 25 Walter Martin Road. They found an employee, 35 year old Edith Cordona Cantu, had been shot multiple times. The motive for the crime is still under investigation but Chief Bage says mental health issues are believed to be a factor.
After Cantu was shot, FWBPD Officers relayed the name of the suspected shooter, 27-year old Clyde Sullivan, and a description of his vehicle to Okaloosa County law enforcement agencies. .
A short time later, an OCSO Deputy spotted the suspect’s vehicle heading north on Lewis Turner Boulevard. Additional Deputies converged on the area and the suspect’s vehicle, on Timberlake Road. The suspect had backed up in the roadway, parking perpendicular to the center of the road with the driver’s side facing oncoming deputies from Lewis Turner Blvd. They approached and boxed in his vehicle from the driver side, the front, and back when he pointed a handgun at deputies and fired a round at them. Four of the eight deputies simultaneously fired on the suspect striking him multiple times.
Subsequent investigation and review of multiple deputy body cameras show the subject pointing his gun at approaching deputies. A 45 caliber handgun and expended shell casing were also discovered within his vehicle
Sheriff Larry Ashley said, “Review of numerous body worn cameras make it clear that this was a justified use of force by deputies facing a clear and present danger.”
Per standard procedures, those deputies remain on paid administrative leave pending a formal administrative review.
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