Passerby Who Killed Man Attacking Cop Learns His Fate
A Florida man who intervened in a violent roadside altercation by fatally shooting a man attacking a sheriff’s deputy will not face any criminal charges, officials confirmed this week.
The State Attorney’s Office concluded its investigation and formally cleared 35-year-old Ashad Russell, determining that his actions were legally justified under Florida’s self-defense laws.
The confrontation took place along Interstate 75 in Lee County when Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy First Class Dean Bardes pulled over a vehicle driven by 53-year-old Edward Strother for speeding. After the stop, Strother allegedly attacked Bardes, forcing him to the ground and repeatedly striking him.
Russell, who was passing by at the time, witnessed the assault and stopped his vehicle to assist. Holding a valid concealed weapons license, he approached the scene armed. According to reports, Bardes—pinned to the ground—noticed Russell’s firearm and urgently directed him to take action.
Despite issuing multiple warnings for Strother to stop, Russell ultimately fired three shots, striking Strother in the neck and ending the attack. Strother was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the aftermath, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott publicly praised Russell for his intervention, writing on Facebook:
“I thank the hero that recognized the imminent threat, rushed to Deputy Bardes’ aid, and ultimately stopped that threat. In a day and age where race is a near instant focus for media and other pundits in police incidents, the fact is that this hero happens to be a man of color who stopped another man of color from further harming or killing a white cop; thereby reminding us that black lives matter, blue lives matter, and indeed all life matters.”
The incident quickly drew national attention, sparking discussions about Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” and justifiable use-of-force laws. The State Attorney’s Office later concluded that Russell acted in lawful defense of another person under imminent threat.