INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – As a deputy opened fire on a man who officials said was “non-compliant” in a traffic stop and making motions “as though drawing out a weapon,” a second deputy arrived, saw the exchange, and also opened fire at the 48-year-old.
Several other details about the shooting during a Gifford traffic stop remain unclear as officials June 20 cited the ongoing investigation in withholding details about the June 18 shooting.
The sequence of events from the deputies’ arrival to which one fired first was disclosed June 20 after the agency released the identity of the slain man, Raymond Benedetti, of the 5800 block of 24th Street.
Whether Benedetti had a weapon, as officials said deputies suspected, and how many times they fired and struck him are details an Indian River County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said would not be provided “at this point” in their investigation.
The identity of Benedetti’s car passenger, who was described as “completely cooperative” in interactions with law enforcement, was withheld, as were the names of the two deputies, now on paid administrative leave.
A deputy who had been employed at the agency for just under a year, but had six years’ with another agency, began the traffic stop and fired first, while a second deputy with just under four years at the agency arrived in a separate vehicle and also opened fire, according to Sheriff Eric Flowers and Capt. Joe Abollo.
In a news conference the night of June 18 where the shooting happened in the 1800 block 38th Place, less than a mile north of Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Flowers outlined the events he said preceded the fatal gunfire.
A black four-door Toyota Corolla was reported stolen by its owner, Benedetti’s mother, Flowers said.
Benedetti had been allowed to borrow the car at 10 a.m., and at roughly 4 p.m. Flowers said she reported it stolen, saying, “…My son takes advantage of me (and) he has a drug problem, and I want to report the vehicle stolen.”
Flowers said Benedetti told his mother he was attempting to purchase a prescription medication, which is used to treat opioid addiction and also contains an opioid ingredient, according to information about the trademarked brand of the drug Flowers said is Suboxone.
The agency identified the vehicle’s location in the Gifford area and shortly after 8 p.m. deputies began a traffic stop that ended on 38th Place, off U.S. 1.
Treating the stop as a felony traffic stop, Flowers said deputies ordered Benedetti out of the car and that he show and place his hands on his head.
Throughout the exchange, he said Benedetti was “somewhat compliant,” but when instructed to get on his knees, Flowers said, “at that point the driver became non-compliant (and) started reaching into his waistband.”
He said Benedetti was “making motions as though drawing out a weapon” and after further commands to show his hands, Flowers said “at one point, a round, (the deputy) fired a round.”
Benedetti, Flowers said, was still searching through his pants however, and reaching for his waist area.
“Our deputy was retreating, trying to take cover,” he said. “The suspect came charging at the deputy. The deputy continued to fire. As he continued to fire, the suspect was still taking things out … reaching into his pocket, reaching into his waistband … and ultimately, eventually, the gunshots stopped him as our deputy was retreating.”
Benedetti, he said, was taken to nearby Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital.
Flowers said he reviewed the footage of the traffic stop and the shooting based on dash and body camera footage, which has not been publicly released.. The same footage, he said, was viewed as it occurred by employees in the agency’s real-time crime center, who communicate information to deputies and monitor their activities.
Abollo said deputies do not fire their service weapons, mostly .9 mm caliber handguns, as warnings.
“We’re stopping a threat,” he said.
He said he didn’t know the exact actions taken by the deputies that night, but they should have attempted first aid after having searched the area for weapons.
The investigation, he said, would be handled like a criminal investigation.
“It appeared, as of right now, they acted on how they were trained,” he said.
Benedetti had 23 prior felony arrests and eight felony convictions, Flowers said.
According to local court records dating back to 2008, Benedetti had been found guilty of non-violent offenses including giving false information to law enforcement about a crash in 2024, resisting without violence in 2018, third-degree grand theft in 2018, loitering or prowling and trespass in 2016, organized fraud and some traffic offenses.
Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on X @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: More details, identity of man shot by Indian River deputies released by Sheriff’s Office
Reporting by Corey Arwood, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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