Topline: A former Brevard County sheriff’s deputy who once pleaded guilty to manslaughter now faces a second-degree murder charge after prosecutors escalated the case following the collapse of his plea deal.
Published: April 17, 2026 11:00 am ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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Former Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Lawson appears in court after being charged with second-degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of his roommate and fellow deputy, Austin Walsh (inset).
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A former sheriff’s deputy who was playing with a gun when it fired and killed his roommate and fellow officer has had his charge upgraded to second-degree murder, a major escalation after his original guilty plea to manslaughter fell apart before sentencing.
Andrew Lawson, once a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy, was originally charged with manslaughter in the 2022 shooting death of 23-year-old Deputy Austin Walsh — his roommate and closest friend. Lawson entered a guilty plea but later withdrew it just before he was to be sentenced.
According to a report by WFTV Channel 9, the state attorney’s office upgraded the charge this week after the plea agreement expired. Judge Naberhaus had previously rejected what defense attorneys described as a more reasonable plea offer, and when Lawson refused a subsequent offer, prosecutors moved to the more serious charge.
The new charging document — an amended information — was filed Thursday and accuses Lawson of second-degree murder.
Lawson’s attorney, Alan Landman, Esq., called the upgrade retaliatory. “From my perspective, same was in retaliation for not accepting what was a wholly ‘new’ unreasonable plea offer subsequent to Judge Naberhaus rejecting the prior, much more reasonable plea offer,” Landman wrote in a statement provided to WFTV.
Landman said he plans to take the case to trial and expressed confidence in the outcome. “I anticipate the case proceeding to trial and have confidence that Mr. Lawson will be acquitted (found not guilty) of all charges,” he said.
The attorney acknowledged the human cost on all sides. “This is a tragic, unfortunate event which has cost the life of Mr. Walsh, who was the best friend of Mr. Lawson, and destroyed many families in the process. It is truly unfortunate that both sides could not find an acceptable resolution to the case avoiding what will ultimately be a lengthy, highly emotional, and difficult trial for all involved,” Landman said.
Walsh was 23 years old when he died. His death was initially reported by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office as an off-duty accident.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Former Florida Deputy Charged With Second-Degree Murder in Death of Fellow Officer
A former Brevard County sheriff’s deputy who once pleaded guilty to manslaughter now faces a second-degree murder charge after prosecutors escalated the case following the collapse of his plea deal.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 17, 2026 11:00 am ET
Former Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Lawson appears in court after being charged with second-degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of his roommate and fellow deputy, Austin Walsh (inset).
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A former sheriff’s deputy who was playing with a gun when it fired and killed his roommate and fellow officer has had his charge upgraded to second-degree murder, a major escalation after his original guilty plea to manslaughter fell apart before sentencing.
Andrew Lawson, once a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy, was originally charged with manslaughter in the 2022 shooting death of 23-year-old Deputy Austin Walsh — his roommate and closest friend. Lawson entered a guilty plea but later withdrew it just before he was to be sentenced.
According to a report by WFTV Channel 9, the state attorney’s office upgraded the charge this week after the plea agreement expired. Judge Naberhaus had previously rejected what defense attorneys described as a more reasonable plea offer, and when Lawson refused a subsequent offer, prosecutors moved to the more serious charge.
The new charging document — an amended information — was filed Thursday and accuses Lawson of second-degree murder.
Lawson’s attorney, Alan Landman, Esq., called the upgrade retaliatory. “From my perspective, same was in retaliation for not accepting what was a wholly ‘new’ unreasonable plea offer subsequent to Judge Naberhaus rejecting the prior, much more reasonable plea offer,” Landman wrote in a statement provided to WFTV.
Landman said he plans to take the case to trial and expressed confidence in the outcome. “I anticipate the case proceeding to trial and have confidence that Mr. Lawson will be acquitted (found not guilty) of all charges,” he said.
The attorney acknowledged the human cost on all sides. “This is a tragic, unfortunate event which has cost the life of Mr. Walsh, who was the best friend of Mr. Lawson, and destroyed many families in the process. It is truly unfortunate that both sides could not find an acceptable resolution to the case avoiding what will ultimately be a lengthy, highly emotional, and difficult trial for all involved,” Landman said.
Walsh was 23 years old when he died. His death was initially reported by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office as an off-duty accident.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Former Florida Deputy Charged With Second-Degree Murder in Death of Fellow Officer
A former Brevard County sheriff’s deputy who once pleaded guilty to manslaughter now faces a second-degree murder charge after prosecutors escalated the case following the collapse of his plea deal.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 17, 2026 11:00 am ET
Former Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Lawson appears in court after being charged with second-degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of his roommate and fellow deputy, Austin Walsh (inset).
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A former sheriff’s deputy who was playing with a gun when it fired and killed his roommate and fellow officer has had his charge upgraded to second-degree murder, a major escalation after his original guilty plea to manslaughter fell apart before sentencing.
Andrew Lawson, once a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy, was originally charged with manslaughter in the 2022 shooting death of 23-year-old Deputy Austin Walsh — his roommate and closest friend. Lawson entered a guilty plea but later withdrew it just before he was to be sentenced.
According to a report by WFTV Channel 9, the state attorney’s office upgraded the charge this week after the plea agreement expired. Judge Naberhaus had previously rejected what defense attorneys described as a more reasonable plea offer, and when Lawson refused a subsequent offer, prosecutors moved to the more serious charge.
The new charging document — an amended information — was filed Thursday and accuses Lawson of second-degree murder.
Lawson’s attorney, Alan Landman, Esq., called the upgrade retaliatory. “From my perspective, same was in retaliation for not accepting what was a wholly ‘new’ unreasonable plea offer subsequent to Judge Naberhaus rejecting the prior, much more reasonable plea offer,” Landman wrote in a statement provided to WFTV.
Landman said he plans to take the case to trial and expressed confidence in the outcome. “I anticipate the case proceeding to trial and have confidence that Mr. Lawson will be acquitted (found not guilty) of all charges,” he said.
The attorney acknowledged the human cost on all sides. “This is a tragic, unfortunate event which has cost the life of Mr. Walsh, who was the best friend of Mr. Lawson, and destroyed many families in the process. It is truly unfortunate that both sides could not find an acceptable resolution to the case avoiding what will ultimately be a lengthy, highly emotional, and difficult trial for all involved,” Landman said.
Walsh was 23 years old when he died. His death was initially reported by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office as an off-duty accident.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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