Volusia County is bracing for a major turn in a high-profile murder case. Eduardo Labrada Machado is scheduled to appear in Volusia County court Monday, where online records show he is expected to change his plea and face sentencing in the killing of off-duty Edgewater police officer David Jewell. Machado had previously pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 15, 2025, shooting at a Circle K in Ormond-by-the-Sea. The hearing marks the latest public step in a case that triggered a state attorney’s notice to seek the death penalty and a wrongful-death lawsuit from the officer’s family.
Planned plea hearing and sentencing
According to FOX 35 Orlando, court records list Machado's Monday appearance as both a plea hearing and a sentencing hearing. The documents available online do not reveal the terms of any potential plea agreement, leaving the exact outcome to be sorted out in open court.
What investigators say
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office says surveillance footage from the Circle K shows the clerk leaving the store, returning after retrieving a jacket, then shooting Jewell at close range. Investigators say Machado later told deputies he was "having a bad day." The sheriff’s office also reported that deputies recovered the firearm from a jacket in the suspect’s vehicle and that detectives continue to process evidence in the case.
Death-penalty filing and indictment
After a grand jury indicted Machado on a charge of first-degree murder, the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit filed formal notice of its intent to seek the death penalty. In its filing, prosecutors said Jewell was shot roughly 20 times. The state attorney's office identified the case as State of Florida v. Eduardo Felipe Labrada Machado (Case No. 2025 106540 CFDB).
Plea deal expectations
Prosecutors have told local reporters they are confident in the strength of their case, pointing to an alleged confession and the surveillance video as key pieces of evidence. Court filings so far have not spelled out the details of any proposed deal. As WFTV notes, legal observers expect that any agreement would likely involve a life sentence rather than take the case to a full capital trial.
Family lawsuit and community reaction
Beyond the criminal case, Jewell’s family has taken Circle K to court. They filed a $20 million wrongful-death lawsuit in December 2025, accusing the company of negligent hiring and alleging the chain ignored warnings about Machado, according to ClickOrlando. The shooting set off an outpouring of support for the Edgewater Police Department, and officials have said they are providing critical-incident stress support to officers affected by Jewell’s killing.
Defense perspective and sealed statements
On the defense side, attorneys have signaled that any plea would be heavily influenced by the risk of a capital trial. A criminal defense lawyer told WESH that a plea deal would likely be aimed at preserving Machado’s life. Earlier in the case, defense lawyers asked a judge to seal Machado’s statements to police. Prosecutors did not oppose the request, and the motion was granted, according to reporting from WFTV.
What’s next
Machado is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach, according to reporting republished by the Daytona Beach News-Journal. If the judge accepts a plea, sentencing could follow immediately. If not, the case will go back on the trial calendar, and the state will continue under its existing death penalty notice.
