In a dramatic incident that captured national attention, a Florida man who fatally shot an assailant attacking a sheriff’s deputy on a busy interstate will not face criminal charges, prosecutors announced.
The incident occurred on November 14 on Interstate 75 in Lee County, Florida. Deputy First Class Dean Bardes was assisting with a traffic crash when 53-year-old Edward Strother sped past on the shoulder. After a brief pursuit, Strother stopped on an off-ramp and suddenly attacked Bardes, knocking him to the ground, repeatedly punching him, and attempting to seize his service weapon.
Witnessing the assault was 35-year-old Ashad Russell, a licensed concealed-carry holder. After ordering Strother to stop and hearing the deputy call for help, Russell fired three shots, fatally wounding Strother and ending the attack. Bardes suffered only minor injuries.
Following a thorough review of witness accounts and video evidence, the State Attorney’s Office concluded Russell acted lawfully under Florida’s self-defense and defense-of-others statutes. Officials praised his actions as a decisive intervention that likely saved the deputy’s life, while the case reignited debate over civilian involvement in violent law enforcement encounters.
