Andrew Scott was shot and killed by police Sunday when officers mistakenly thought that the innocent man’s home was that of a murder suspect.
Officers from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office thought they were confronting Jonathan Brown, a man accused of murder, WESH in Orlando reported. Brown had been spotted at the Blueberry Hills Apartment complex and his motorcycle was parked across from Andrew Scott’s home.
It was in the 1:30 a.m. when deputies knocked on the 26-year-old Scott’s door, not identifying themselves as law enforcement officers. Scott answered the door holding a gun, and deputies opened fire.
“When we knocked on the door, the door opened and the occupant of that apartment was pointing a gun at deputies and that’s when we opened fire and killed him,” Lt. John Herrell told WESH.
Even though Scott was well within his rights to answer the door with his handgun and within reason to be wary of people at his door in the middle of the night when an accused murder is on the loose, and even though officers never identified themselves, Herrell still maintained that Andrew Scott was at fault.
“It’s just a bizarre set of circumstances. The bottom line is, you point a gun at a deputy sheriff or police office, you’re going to get shot,” Herrell said.
Herrell said the deputies chose not to identify themselves because they felt it would be more “tactically advantageous.”
Friends told the Orlando Sentinel that Scott, a pizza deliveryman,was a “happy-go-lucky guy” who was probably nervous when he heard strangers at his door so late at night. They said he was at home with his live-in girlfriend and had plans to watch a movie after working late at Hungry Howie’s Pizza.
Pat Casalaspro, owner of the restaurant where Scott worked, said he probably didn’t know who was outside and answered the door holding a gun.
“I guarantee you he was trying to protect himself,” Casalaspro said, adding that Scott was not confrontational.
Police later arrested Brown near the building where Andrew Scott was shot.
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Great employee, good man, sheriff's should be fired. Tactically advantageous? Murder is more fitting. I worked by this man's side for months, he was not violent at all. There was no reason at all for what happened. We'll miss you Drew, love you bro.
Murdering thug cops. If it were a normal citizen they would be in jail. But not these turd cops.
I believe the good Lt., I believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy also.
"…even though officers never identified themselves, Herrell still maintained that Andrew Scott was at fault."
Let's see a murder is on the loose, he gets a strange knock at 1:30 am, the person or people don't ID themselves he answer the door with protection and the unidentified people shoot him and it's HIS fault. If I had done just that, I would be in jail and charged, so why aren't the people who shot Andrew Scott not in jail? Oh they are the police and the law doesn't apply to them, silly me.
It was murder plain and simple and these sheriffs should b tried and imprisoned like every other murderer.
police killed one of my family members broad day in front of 300 kids a case of mistaken identity asked our family not to talk to media an asked if we wanted money in return for a dead love one we turn down the money an have had no contact with the department why because when one of those so great officers gets run over by a car beat the f^@$ into a coma or shot while trying some stupid stuff like this in a neighborhood where all the people around have license to CCW I think then the departments will start changing there laws on how they are to approach suspected murders I feel we as the people pay there salaries give them big cars with fast engines an complain when we don't like what they are doing I say take back our independence an employ less police make it harder to become a killer with a badge I tell you one thing I have 10 guns an u come a knocking at a odd time of day night idc I'm not gone open the door unless u say who you are an why you are there also I wouldn't have came to the door maybe a window ps the cops who killed my family member got 3 months off until the smoked cleared an local media cleared the story sayin they acted in self defense we said ok well when a local citizen acts in there defense an kills one of them make sure you guys put the flag where it go along with the big pension his wife will receive u take one of mine we take 4 of yours………….
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." so there for the people gave police this power now would be the time to take it away hint hint the last 40 presidents did us no good so why keep voting to get something or someone who's a puppet for a bigger cause?
“tactically advantageous.”! They had better make sure they have the correct address before they go knocking! This could have been avoided. Police officers whether being “tactically advantageous” or not should have to announce themselves. Had they knocked normally, and asked for "Brown" – the murderer, the victim here would have responded with wrong person and then he could identify himself and they could identify themselves as the police. He would have put the gun down and answered the door. After all he didn't look anything like the suspect! If they had a more strict procedure to follow… across the board – no matter the circumstance they wouldn't be putting innocent patrons at risk!
I understand like anyone that watches Law & Order or any other crime show that the element of surprise is “tactically advantageous.” but at this rate they have no ones interest but their own in their minds! A calm head works better. And I bet that if they had gone to correct address of a murder suspect ~ are they going to just open the door? They are probably trying to exit out the back door or a window anyways!
Get your facts straight! The person they were looking for wasn't an Accused murderer… He didn't even hurt anyone, all he did was run from the police after they broke up a fight. The original charge was Assault, the police changed that to Attempted murder after they killed an innocent man due to lack of due diligence. So F U Report who wrote this story, Get your facts straight and report the news unbiasedly.
Chris, Did anyone involved in this fight die? How could they call the person they were searching for an accused murderer? I am asking you because the Inquisitr must be in bed with the cops!
Tactical advantage is second to the safety of innocent citizens. Unless, of course, you are in a war zone and you are the military. I am afraid this is the result of our "peace" officers viewing us as the enemy and the military mindset and weapons to carry out these tactics against us. I am very sorry for your loss. My condolences to his family, his girlfriend and your community.
No the only person that died was the person they killed…
Those arse hole police would have taken a few rounds from me as my dying body hit the ground I guarantee you that!
A tactical advantage would have been gained by surrounding the house with a tactical team and then making a phone call to the person inside and asking him to surrender. Isn't this SOP for every law enforcement agency. Two cops knocking on the door when they think a murder suspect is inside? I thought that that only happens on TV. I am as pro law enforcement as it gets, but this is just plain wrong and these guys need to be help accountable.
Hope the cop gets shot in the face!
Hope the cop gets shot in the face!