Did Justin Way Commit Suicide By Cop?


Did Justin Way commit “suicide by cop,” or were the actions of Florida police officers over the top and unwarranted? That is one of the questions being asked in the case of a man who went from suicidal and drunk to being shot dead by cops in a matter of one fateful evening. Gawker reports that the slain man’s family don’t believe police reports surrounding the incident.

The incident reportedly took place on the evening of May 11, when Way’s live-in girlfriend came home to him drunk off vodka. He had been a recovering alcoholic for just five weeks when he “fell off the wagon” after losing his job. The Daily Beast reports that the Florida man’s girlfriend, Kaitlyn Christine Lyons, took the vodka and poured it out when she arrived home. However, Way possessed a large knife, which he said he was going to use to inflict harm on himself. While he was threatening suicide, Lyons reportedly called a non-emergency hotline to seek help, believing that he would be detained under the Baker Act. She was wrong.

Law enforcement officers with the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office showed up, but instead of detaining Justin Way and taking him to a hospital, what ensued left a family in shambles. Two deputies entered the condo where the man had threatened suicide while wielding the large knife, telling his girlfriend to wait outside while they handled the situation. When the two police officers entered the bedroom, they shot him in the abdomen and chest area. He was shot dead before he could even reportedly get up from the bed.

Detectives with the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office claim that Justin Way committed suicide by cop, and that he had threatened the two deputies with the knife that he had on his person. The office also claims that the deputies had ordered the man to drop the knife, but shot him when he refused to do so. This is according to the father of the slain man, who doubts the sheriff’s office’s version of events.

It should be reported that one of the deputies who shot Justin Way was also involved in another similar shooting last year. So, this is not the first time Deputy Kyle Braig has shot a man armed with a knife. The other deputy in the shooting has also made disturbing comments on Facebook.

“Most people respect the badge. Everyone respects the gun.”

So were these two deputies doing the right thing when they fatally shot the man who had threatened suicide, or did they go too far?

[Photo: Justin Way photo via Facebook]

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