In February 2017, Ashad Russell, 35, shot and killed a man at tacking Florida Deputy Dean Bardes on Interstate 75. Bardes, pinned and beaten by Edward Strother, 53, instructed Russell, who had a concealed we.apon, to shoot. After warning Strother, Russell fired three times, kiIIing him.
The State Attorney’s Office cleared Russell, ruling his actions justified to prevent harm to Bardes. Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott praised Russell, while Strother’s brother questioned the justification, asking, “Was my brother armed?”
