New details have been released by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office in the killing of Sgt. Elio Diaz while in the line of duty.
In a press conference on Thursday, Sheriff Bill Prummell explained what unfolded Sunday, Dec. 15, and how they located Andrew Mostyn, 24, the man accused of shooting and killing Diaz.
It was revealed that Mostyn's mother claimed he had a "dislike for law enforcement" due to past trauma with his father. He felt as though law enforcement didn't protect him.
Shortly after 3 p.m., Diaz pulled over a white pickup truck for a traffic stop at a Chevron gas station at 4968 Tamiami Trail, at the base of the Barron Collier Bridge, just north of Punta Gorda.
During the traffic stop, which lasted more than an hour, Prummell said Mostyn pulled out a rifle and shot Diaz.
According to Prummell, Diaz was airlifted to the hospital where he later died.
The stop was conducted because Mostyn did not have insurance on his truck. Diaz learned that Mostyn was homeless and living out of his truck, he tried to make sure it wouldn't be towed, according to Prummell.
The sheriff's office said the truck was full of weapons in the back seat including, a ballistic vest, multiple magazines, mushrooms, a crossbow, more rifles, and two gas masks.
During a 15-minute manhunt, deputies found Mostyn by using license plate readers to locate the truck.
Deputies located him and his pickup truck at a Popeyes restaurant on Kings Highway near I-75.
Mostyn switched his Florida tag to a Georgia one.
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.
"Andrea stopped what could've been a blood bath. In my opinion, she's a freaking hero," said Prummell as seconds of body-worn camera flashed on the screen.
Mostyn was flown to the hospital, where he also died from his injuries.
A well-being check had previously been conducted on Mostyn in Pennsylvania before be checked himself into a facility in Georgia. When this happened is currently unknown.
Prummell said Mostyn self-medicated and had hallucinogens in the car when he was killed.
According to the sheriff, Mostyn was living and working in Englewood doing construction and hurricane relief.
The sheriff's office confirmed there was no other person inside the car besides Mostyn and a dog.
The sheriff added that Mostyn had a criminal history including DUIs and marijuana charges in Georgia.
CCSO is awaiting Mostyn's toxicology reports to see if he was on anything. There was no confirmation of mental illness.
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