In a tragic incident unfolding in Eagle Lake, Polk County, a domestic violence situation escalated resulting in a deputy-involved shooting. As reported by WFLA, yesterday morning a 61-year-old woman reported being "violently beaten" by her husband, 52-year-old Charles Franklin Edwards, prompting immediate law enforcement response.
Upon arrival at the scene, Polk County Deputy Sheriff Christopher Johnston heard screams for help from inside the home, according to statements obtained by FOX 13. After entering the home, Johnston confronted Edwards, who was armed with a large hammer, and ordered him to drop the weapon. Defying the deputy's commands, Edwards pulled out the deployed taser probes and charged at Johnston.
The confrontation led Deputy Johnston to discharge his firearm, striking Edwards at least two times. The ABC Action News report provided that life-saving measures were attempted, but Edwards succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His wife, the reported victim of the domestic abuse, was also hospitalized for the injuries sustained and is expected to survive.
"Domestic violence calls are one of the most dangerous situations law enforcement officers respond to," Sheriff Grady Judd said, in a statement relayed by the Polk County Sheriff's Office. He described the perished suspect as "violent, enraged" and intent on murdering his wife, whose life Deputy Johnston's intervention saved. Meanwhile, the victim, in undergoing treatment, is expected to make significant injuries' recovery, as reported by ABC Action News.
Edwards was reported to have had an extensive criminal history, with charges dating back to 2003 in multiple states, including assault and narcotics possession. Currently, four investigations are in progress regarding the shooting: an independent review by the 10th Judicial Circuit's Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force, an internal investigation by the PCSO, an autopsy by the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office, and a State Attorney’s Office review, as per standard protocol.
