Deaf man killed by deputy was shot six times on Saturday as the man reportedly did not obey orders of the officer, since he had hearing problems. The incident of the deaf man killed by deputy was unfortunately witnessed by the deaf man's son.
According to the 25-year-old son, his father, who was fatally shot by a Volusia County sheriff's deputy, was deaf from a childhood illness. Unfortunately, Edward P. Miller's disability would also be reason for his death as the incident of the deaf man killed by deputy occurred as he was not able to understand instructions of the deputy and failed to obey the officer.
According to the New York Daily News, the Volusia County, Fla. sheriff's deputy pumped six shots into the 52-year-old deaf man, which instantaneously killed him. The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that the deputy said Miller had been "brandishing a firearm" during a dispute at a towing business on Saturday.
The deputy involved in the deaf man killed by deputy incident has been identified as Joel Hernandez, reports the Irish Mirror. The NY Daily News reports that Hernandez had been in plain clothes and had identified himself as a deputy before he shot and killed Miller.
The story was also relayed by Miller's grieving son, also called Edward and who also witnessed the deaf man killed by deputy incident. According to Miller's son, he had been sitting in his pickup parked near his father's car when the shooting occurred. He said the licensed weapon his dad had been carrying was licensed and tucked underneath his shirt.
The young Edward added that Hernandez fired two bullets, of which came through the windshield while firing four more shots after the two.
According to the Irish Mirror, the incident of the deaf man killed by deputy happened after police were called to a report about an argument. The officers reportedly saw a gun held by the deaf man therefore they yelled several instructions, of which the man did not understand and hear.
The young Edward said of the incident of the deaf man killed by deputy, "I kept telling them that he can't hear them. I was right there. I saw the whole thing."
According to Clickorlando.com, the two Millers were trying to pick up a car from the towing service when they had an argument over the recovery of their car.
The NY Daily reports that Hernandez is an investigator with the sheriff's auto theft unit.
He was with another deputy due to business unrelated to the Millers when they heard the argument. According to authorities, Hernandez even walked up to Miller after he heard the man having "verbal altercation" with the towing business' employees. That's when Hernandez saw the firearm.
The day before the incident of the deaf man killed by deputy, Clickorlando.com reports that an employee of the towing service company called 911. The caller told dispatchers, "I'm releasing cars and I have a gentleman that was coming to pick up his vehicle and they're both drunk. The younger man, I kicked him off the property twice now."
The caller continued, "I told them they'd have to wait their turn and they're being belligerent and the younger man has a gun in the back side of him. I do not feel safe and I need an officer here."
The employees were afraid of the gun the young Edward carried therefore they called police, reports the Irish Mirror. However, when the authorities arrived, they found that the firearm was legal and no law had been broken. Police left.
The following day, the Millers returned hoping they could finally get their car back. Unfortunately, the day would lead to the incident of the deaf man killed by deputy.
According to Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson, when Hernandez noticed the armed Miller, he immediately perceived a threat and fired at Miller, but not before shouting instructions to the deaf man.
Though Davidson confirmed the killing, he would not provide further details on the incident of the deaf man killed by deputy.
Davidson said, "While the specific sequence of events isn't being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation, during the encounter, Hernandez perceived a threat and fired his duty weapon, striking and killing the man."
However, after the shooting, Sheriff Ben Johnson said Miller had been "brandishing a firearm" outside Fryer's Towing Company in Daytona Beach before the shooting happened.
Later though, reports surfaced that the Saturday incident of the deaf man killed by deputy was not the first time Hernandez had been involved in a fatal shooting.
According to the Irish Mirror, on Jan. 2, 2013 Hernandez shot and killed an armed, suicidal man named Kenneth Morrow who also ignored police orders.
Morrow advanced toward Hernandez and another deputy and he was told to stop. When he ignored the officers' orders, they opened fire and shot him dead.
Hernandez was later cleared of any wrongdoing in that incident, reports NY Daily. However, a month after the incident, Hernandez reportedly kicked a man in the face for resisting. He was reprimanded and received a letter from the sheriff's office for use of excessive force and causing injury.
Deaf man killed by deputy incident still remains under investigation by the sheriff's office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to Clickorlando.com. As of the current moment, both deputies are on leave pending investigation.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
