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A Charlotte County deputy was killed Sunday in the line of duty during a traffic stop in Charlotte Harbor, marking the seventh law enforcement death in the county’s history.
Deputy Cpl. Elio Diaz
Dec. 15, 2024
Deputy Cpl. Elio Diaz was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop at a Chevron gas station in Charlotte Harbor.
The tragic event unfolded when the suspect, Andrew Mostyn Jr., 24, allegedly pulled a rifle and fired at Diaz. Diaz later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
After a manhunt for Mostyn was underway, deputies found him and his pickup truck at a Popeyes restaurant on Kings Highway near I-75.
As deputies approached the suspect's pickup, they say he reached for a rifle, and a deputy opened fire with a shot to the head.
Mostyn was flown to the hospital, where he also died from his injuries.
Deputy Cpl. Elio Diaz is the latest Charlotte County deputy to lose his life in the line of duty. Here’s a look at the tragedies that have claimed the lives of local law enforcement officers:
Deputy First Class Christopher E. Taylor
Nov. 22, 2022
Deputy Christopher Taylor was conducting a traffic stop in Punta Gorda when a suspected drunk driver struck his vehicle .
Lifesaving efforts were made on scene before he was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Taylor, who was only 23 years old and had recently celebrated his birthday three days prior.
Sergeant Michael L. Wilson
Aug. 5, 2013
Sergeant Michael L. Wilson, 42, was responding to a domestic violence call when he was shot and killed.
Sergeant Wilson had served with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for more than 21 years in a variety of positions - Corrections, Road Patrol, School Resource Officer, Detective, Street Crimes and Narcotics.
Sergeant Wilson left a wife and three teenage children. On Aug. 10, 2013 at 12:21 pm, Wilson's radio ID, 405, was called for the last time and the number retired.
Correctional Officer Darla K. Lathrem
June 11, 2003
Correctional Officer Darla K. Lathrem, 38, became the first female correctional officer in Florida history to be killed in the line of duty when she was murdered during an escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institute.
She had been at CCI less than a year.
Deputy Curtis M. Moore
Apr. 24, 1983
Deputy Curtis M. Moore, 45, was ending his shift as a motorcycle patrol officer when a woman pulled her car out in front of him on SR 775 in Placida.
He was transported to Fawcett Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Deputy Moore had been in law enforcement for 13 years, four of those years with Charlotte County. He left a wife of less than two years.
Moore's radio ID, 311, was retired after its last call at his funeral.
Assistant Police Chief Richard L. Beecher
Oct. 10, 1978
Punta Gorda Assistant Police Chief Richard L. Beecher was killed while looking for escaped killer, Raleigh Porter.
Assistant Chief Beecher had flagged down a passing sod truck and, after speaking with the driver, stepped back into the roadway off the running board of the truck.
As soon as Assistant Chief Beecher stepped into the roadway he was struck by a passing motorist. He died a few hours later at Lee Memorial Hospital.
City Marshal John H. Bowman
Jan. 29, 1903
City Marshal John H. Bowman was assassinated by a suspect that fired a shotgun blast through a screened front window of Bowman's home on Taylor Street in Punta Gorda.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said he was shot in response to his tough stance against drinking and gambling.
His wife and four children were present when he was killed. The suspect was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison.
Deputy Cpl. Elio Diaz joins six others who have lost their lives in the line of duty while serving Charlotte County.
As the community continues to mourn these losses, their courage and commitment to service will never be forgotten.
Their sacrifices remain a solemn reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers every day.
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