UPDATE 12:30am Monday, December 16
A Charlotte County deputy has been killed during a traffic stop.
Senior Reporter Kaitlin Knapp was on the scene covering this story for you as it unfolded rapidly Sunday night. Click to watch her report now:
An understandably devastated Sheriff Bill Prummell addressed the media briefly just before midnight Monday, December 16th.
No questions were taken, as the sheriff read a statement.
Sheriff Prummell said Corporal Elio Diaz had conducted a traffic stop at the Chevron gas station across from the Sunseeker resort late Sunday afternoon. The sheriff did not comment on what provoked the traffic stop. However, during the encounter, the sheriff said the driver, Andrew Mostyn, Jr., pulled out a rifle and opened fire. Corporal Diaz was hospitalized but did not survive his injuries.
Sheriff Prummell said a manhunt ensued, and deputies were able to locate the 24 year old suspect at a nearby Popeye's restaurant off Kings Highway.
The sheriff said, when they approached, Mostyn, Jr. grabbed for a rifle, and one of the deputies opened fire. Mostyn, Jr. was shot in the head. Despite being airlifted to a hospital, the suspect died, the sheriff said.
"I want you guys to keep Elio and his family in your thoughts," Sheriff Prummell said. "Elio was a friend..." the sheriff paused, becoming emotional. He continued: "He was a good family man, he loved his children, and he was a really great cop... and he's going to be missed. Thank you."
Click to listen for yourself: the Sheriff talks about his friend, Corporal Elio Diaz.
Corporal Diaz began serving with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office in 2013.
You can read more about his love for his 4 children, wife, and career here.
There were still plenty of questions to be answered about the suspect, including why he reacted with violence. FOX 4 will continue to follow up to learn more about Andrew Mostyn, Jr.
UPDATE 9:45pm Sunday, December 15
U.S. Senator Rick Scott just confirmed a Charlotte County deputy was killed tonight in a post on X, as he shared his condolences with Sheriff Prummell and the agency as a whole.
Devastated to hear of the passing of a Charlotte County deputy tonight.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 16, 2024
I spoke with @CCSOFLSheriff Prummell to let him know Ann and I are praying for his team and the deputy’s family tonight. Please keep them in your prayers.
FOX 4 also counted as many as a dozen marked vehicles outside ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte hospital earlier this evening.
FOX 4 still has a crew at one of two scenes believed to be linked to this incident tonight, waiting for the sheriff to give a formal update to the public. We are hearing details about both the deputy involved and the potential suspect, but continue to wait for formal confirmation before reporting it here.
Click here to see new video just sent in from a viewer from the second scene in this case:
UPDATE 8:20pm Sunday, December 15
4 hours later, FOX 4 continues to wait for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office to refute or verify online reports of what played out at two different scenes in the county, including a gas station across from the Sunseeker resort, and along a stretch of Kings Highway off I-75.
Though FOX 4 has heard reports of possibly several shootings and other details, the sheriff's office only commented via its app that it was, "with the help of surrounding agencies...working 2 active scenes."
In the meantime, U.S. Congressman Greg Steube commented on X, formerly Twitter, alluding to the possibility that this critical incident included an officer-involved shooting, and that his prayers were with those involved, indicating that the outcome of tonight's incident could be grave.
My office is closely monitoring the reports of multiple shootings, including a potential officer-involved shooting in Charlotte County near the Sunseeker this evening.
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) December 16, 2024
Please avoid the area to allow Charlotte County Sheriffs Office and Punta Gorda Police investigate.
My…
UPDATE 7:15pm Sunday, December 15
The northbound lanes of the US-41 Bridge to Port Charlotte have been reopened by law enforcement. However, as the sun set, deputies continued to work the scene at the gas station, gathering evidence to determine what occurred.
FOX 4's Senior Reporter Kaitlin Knapp does anticipate Sheriff Prummell will speak at some point about what happened at these two scenes. There are several reports of a shooting online, and we're working to verify whether those reports are accurate. We'll update you here and across our social media platforms when we learn more.
Original Reporting:
Law enforcement swarmed a gas station across the street from the Sunseeker resort Sunday night and shut down multiple area roads in response to an urgent and active investigation.
The activity also shut down the US-41 bridge northbound into Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda police posted the following on Facebook:
Charlotte County's FOX 4 Community Correspondent Alex Orenczuk was already on scene because he lives in the same areas he covers every day. There were reports of a shooting but FOX 4 has not yet been able to confirm those claims with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Bill Prummell was also on the scene at the gas station and Orenczuk was working to speak with him.
FOX 4 is also hearing reports of a second scene along Kings Highway, and that the two scenes could be connected. A sign observed by Senior Reporter Kaitlin Knapp along I-75 advised Kings Highway was closed.
Kaitlin and Alex are both working this story and will have much more here on fox4now.com. Be sure to activate your push notifications on the FOX 4 app on your cell phone to receive updates.
