WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. — The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office released dashcam video Thursday of an ambush shooting that ended with the gunmen dead and a deputy shot.
Investigators said that on Aug. 30, a deputy pulled over a car on West New Haven Avenue, west of Interstate 95.
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Moments after offering to watch a 2-month-old in the back of that car, Deputy Brian Potters was forced to run for his life when the suspect jumped out of the car with a weapon.
As deputies were speaking to people inside of the car, a third man jumped out of the backseat and opened fire on the deputies.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey identified the suspect as a “career criminal” who was out on bond.
At the time of the shooting, Paris Wilder, 38, had two active bench warrants for his arrest in connection to two separate drug cases.
“When you look at the video, but for the grace of God, our two deputies, or those two innocent bystanders, or that baby could have died at the scene,” Ivey said.
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Ivey said the injured deputy was shot in the leg and also struck with the butt of what he described as a short-stock rifle.
Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the chaotic scene, and shots rang out from the gunman and deputies.
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See more in the video above.
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