A tragic incident unfolded in Florida where an off-duty police officer was shot 24 times by a gas station employee. Authorities characterized the shooting as exceptionally brutal.
Officer David Jewel was shot in the head multiple times at a Circle K gas station in Ormond by the Sea, according to officials from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect, identified as Eduardo Labrada Machado, an employee at the gas station, leaving just as Jewel went to his car to get his jacket.
Machado, a 24-year-old green card holder, is seen returning to the store, pulling out a handgun, and shooting Jewel multiple times in the head, which led to the officer’s death.
At a press conference, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood expressed his outrage, stating he would “fire 24 shots” and described the incident as an assassination. He shared unsettling video footage, expressing disbelief at the calculated nature of the attack.
Authorities noted that Machado had a prior history of confrontations with Jewel and suggested he had considered violence against him before this incident, citing that he was “having a bad day” during his drive to work. Upon arriving, he allegedly used a newly purchased handgun to attack Jewel at close range.
The weapon believed to have been used was later discovered in Machado’s vehicle, leading to his arrest on first-degree murder charges. Strangely, Machado had no prior criminal record but had been in contact with law enforcement earlier in 2023 for discharging a firearm at a state park.
The sheriff’s office also indicated that Machado had received mental health diagnoses. He is a legal resident who has lived in the United States for the last decade.
Officer Jewel had been serving with the Edgewater Police Department for two years, having previously worked with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and Helen Lake Police Department.
In the wake of this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up by his colleagues, raising over $33,000 to support his family, emphasizing the urgent need for care for his wife, father-in-law, and young son since Jewel was their main provider.
