PALM BAY, Fla. — C
hannel 9 Eyewitness News has learned that a man shot late Sunday morning by an off-duty Brevard County deputy has died.
Deputy Yousef Hafza, off duty at the time, shot 22-year-old Clarence Mahogany X Howard, of Palm Bay, at approximately 11:15 a.m. near St. Johns Heritage Parkway and Emerson Drive NW after Howard followed the deputy from an unknown location, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.
Howard was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Deputy Hafza is an 11-year law enforcement veteran, having been previously employed by the Palm Bay Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the West Melbourne Police Department.
Investigators say Hafza was not harmed.
As of late Sunday night, there were still a lot of questions about what transpired. Investigators tell Channel 9 that it all started as a road-rage incident.
"There were no witnesses to the exact incident other than the other person who was in vehicle. There was somebody who came up right after," Ivey said.
Hafza has been placed on administrative lead pending the outcome of the investigation.
Photos: Traffic-related shooting in Palm Bay
Ivey said it's unknown who the aggressor was in the incident. Hafza told investigators he shot Howard out of self-defense, but Ivey also said that Howard did not fire any shots.
Another person was riding in the car with Howard.
Brevard County firefighters said Howard was brought by ambulance to Holmes Regional Medical Center as a trauma code.
Hafza called 911 after the shooting, according to Ivey. It's unknown if the deputy used his service weapon.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.
Cox Media Group
