Florida deputy killed with his own weapon during traffic stop, police say

Lead: A Miami-Dade County sheriff’s deputy, 27-year-old Devin Jaramillo, was shot and killed Friday afternoon on the 12200 block of Southwest 128th Street after responding to a minor traffic crash, authorities said. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, a dispute at the scene escalated into a physical fight in which a suspect gained control of Jaramillo’s service weapon and shot him multiple times. The deputy was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital and later died of his wounds. The man who shot Jaramillo then returned to his vehicle and died by a self-inflicted gunshot, officials identified him as 21-year-old Steven David Rustrian.

Key Takeaways

• Deputy Devin Jaramillo, 27, was fatally shot Friday afternoon after responding to a minor traffic crash in the 12200 block of Southwest 128th Street in Miami-Dade County.
• Officials say the attacker disarmed Jaramillo of his service weapon during a physical altercation and shot him multiple times; Jaramillo was pronounced dead at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.
• The shooter, identified as 21-year-old Steven David Rustrian, died by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot after leaving the scene.
• The incident involved at least one other person who was detained briefly and subsequently released without charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
• Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz described the event as not an ambush and said the homicide bureau will lead the investigation.
• Jaramillo served in the Kendall District; he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Central Florida and was remembered by officials as a community-minded officer and former football player.
• State and local leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, issued public condolences and pledged accountability and support for law enforcement.

Background

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) is one of the largest law-enforcement agencies in Florida, with deputies assigned across urban and suburban districts including Kendall. Traffic calls and minor crashes often produce a mix of low- and high-risk encounters; training emphasizes both rapid scene control and officer safety measures to reduce the chance of close-contact weapon loss. Nationwide, officer fatalities stemming from being disarmed remain a small subset of line-of-duty deaths but prompt urgent review of retention, grounding and use-of-force policies.

Deputy Jaramillo, a recent hire by standard departmental timelines, had academic and athletic credentials that MDSO highlighted in its public statements. The sheriff’s office noted his local roots and described him as committed to public service. The Kendall District, where he served, covers diverse neighborhoods and sees a steady stream of nonviolent traffic incidents that can nonetheless escalate unpredictably.

Main Event

According to the sheriff’s office, Jaramillo responded to what was described as a “minor” traffic crash on Friday afternoon in the 12200 block of Southwest 128th Street. When he engaged with people involved in the collision, a verbal dispute developed and quickly turned physical. During that altercation, the suspect allegedly fought with the deputy and gained control of the deputy’s service firearm.

Officials said the assailant used the taken weapon to shoot Jaramillo multiple times. Emergency responders transported Jaramillo to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. After the shooting, authorities said the suspect returned to his vehicle and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

Investigators detained a second individual connected to the traffic crash for questioning; that person was later released and will not face criminal charges, the sheriff’s office said. The homicide bureau of MDSO opened a formal investigation into the deputy’s killing and is coordinating evidence collection and witness interviews.

Analysis & Implications

The incident underscores the acute risk posed by close-contact struggles where an officer’s firearm can be accessed by a suspect. Departments nationwide maintain protocols for weapon retention and physical control, but real-world encounters can outpace training when multiple people, poor lighting or close quarters are involved. This event is likely to trigger a review within MDSO of retention holsters, backup presence on certain call types and tactics for managing confrontations that begin as routine traffic responses.

Beyond equipment and tactics, the shooting raises questions about staffing and response patterns for low-severity incidents. Agencies weigh the tradeoffs between sending one deputy quickly to a minor crash and dispatching additional units to reduce the chance of an isolated, vulnerable officer. These operational choices affect response times, community expectations and officer safety outcomes.

Public trust and community relations may also be affected. High-profile officer fatalities tend to draw strong public attention and political reaction, which can accelerate policy debates about training, mental-health supports for both officers and the public, and accountability mechanisms. The fact that the suspect died by suicide limits criminal liability but may intensify calls for clarity around the sequence of events and whether different tactics or reinforcements could have altered the outcome.

Comparison & Data

The table summarizes the core, confirmed facts released by the sheriff’s office. While national statistics on officer disarmament-related fatalities are limited, this case fits into a small but impactful category of line-of-duty deaths that prompt tactical and policy reassessments. Local leaders have emphasized that the homicide bureau will gather forensic and witness evidence before public findings are finalized.

Reactions & Quotes

“This is not an ambush,” Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said, describing the sequence as a sudden physical struggle that escalated on scene.

Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz / Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (official statement)

“First Lady @CaseyDeSantis and I are heartbroken over the tragic killing of Deputy Jaramillo,” Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on social media, saying those responsible would be held accountable.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (public statement)

“Our entire community stands with this brave officer, his family and fellow deputies,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said, offering prayers and condolences.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (public statement)

Unconfirmed

• Motivation for the altercation remains unclear; investigators have not publicly identified any prior relationship between the suspect and Deputy Jaramillo.
• Details about whether any weapons or substances were present in the initial crash vehicle have not been released by authorities.
• Whether body-worn or dash-camera recordings will be released and their contents have not been confirmed.

Bottom Line

The fatal shooting of Deputy Devin Jaramillo during a response to a minor traffic crash is a tragic reminder that routine police duties can quickly become deadly. Immediate facts — a physical altercation, loss of a service weapon, Jaramillo’s transport to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital and the suspect’s subsequent death by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot — are confirmed by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

Investigation by the homicide bureau will be central to answering outstanding questions about sequence, motive and possible policy or training changes. Community leaders and state officials have already signaled support for the sheriff’s office while calling for accountability; the coming days are likely to focus on forensic findings, any available video evidence and whether the department will alter equipment or response protocols for similar calls.

Sources

• NBC News — national news outlet report summarizing the sheriff’s office statement and public reactions (media)