TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Wednesday's city of Tallahassee commission meeting started off with a prayer and a moment of silence for the officer, his family, and the community.
A city now in mourning after the tragic death.
From invocation.
"Lord, just help us deal with that perspective of dealing with the reality of early this morning and helping us prepare for tomorrow," Kelly Burke, Tallahassee Police Department chaplain said.
To first call to order.
"Everyone is aware that this has been one of the toughest days for the city of Tallahassee in recent history," city of Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said.
A much different start to Wednesday's city of Tallahassee commission meeting.
With time spent remembering the Tallahassee Police Department officer killed in a crash early Wednesday morning.
"We're devastated," Tallahassee Police Department Chief Lawrence Revell said.
The Leon County Sheriff's office the events that ended the officer's life started when LCSO responded to an assault call at a house on Saplin Court just after Midnight Wednesday morning.
"The suspect entered the home where he resides and shot three family members and then fled in a vehicle. An LCSO deputy encountered the vehicle driven by the suspect at North Monroe Street and Capital Circle Northwest," Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said.
LCSO says the suspect identified as Tyrone Cleveland-- turned his car around-- into oncoming traffic.
That's when he crashed head on into the officer's patrol car.
"I want to reiterate how devastated we are about this loss and the lasting impact that will have not only on our officers but on the community," Tallahassee Police Department Deputy Chief Jason Laursen said.
With a call now for this community to come together to heal from this tragedy.
"We talk all time about community and about how we work so hard to come together as community. All of us. It's times like these where that truly shines through," Revell said.
"We truly lost a hero today. I'm asking every citizen to Tallahassee today to reflect on the importance of the duty of law enforcement," Dailey said.
Those three people shot are expected to be OK.
The name of the officer will not be released at this time.
His family is asking for privacy under Marsy's Law, which protects victims of crime.
Update:
According to Leon County Sheriff's Office Inmate Booking Information, Tyrone Cleveland is currently facing three charges of homicide-willful kill murder premeditated, one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and two counts of possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted Florida felon.
Cleveland's first court appearance was June 9. According to court records, he was denied bond on three of the counts and is being held for pre-trial detention.
Update, 9 a.m.:
The Tallahassee Police Department and Leon County Sheriff's Office released a joint statement this morning with further details about Wednesday's deadly crash.
According to the statement, at around 12:28 a.m., the Leon County Sheriff's Office received a call about an assault in the 4200 block of Saplin Court.
37-year-old Tyrone Cleveland entered the house he lives in and shot three family members. He fled the scene in a vehicle.
LCSO encountered the vehicle being driven by the suspect at North Monroe Street and Capital Circle NW. A Tallahassee Police Department officer also encountered the vehicle.
The departments state that the suspect turned his vehicle around and began traveling toward oncoming traffic and collided with the TPD officer's vehicle at the intersection of Capital Circle NW and NW Passage.
The officer was transported to the hospital and died from his injuries, reports state.
The three shooting victims were transported to the hospital with two suffering from non-life threatening injuries and the third is in stable condition.
The suspect was also hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries and is facing several charges.
Grief counselors are assisting members of TPD and LCSO and the fallen officer’s family asks for privacy at this time.
This is an ongoing investigation and ABC 27 will continue to update this story as more details become available.
Update, 8:30 a.m.:
The Tallahassee Police Department held a press conference to provide more information on the incident.
Flags are flying at half-staff in front of the Tallahassee Police Department. A TPD Officer died in an early morning wreck with another vehicle.
The crash happened around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning off Capitol Circle NW.
At this time details about what led to the accident have not been released.
"Today we lost a hero," said Mayor John Dailey in a press conference. "I want to make sure the officer's service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. I want everyone to join me in standing with the Tallahassee Police Department," he said, offering condolences. The Mayor also asked that everyone to take a moment to reflect on the dangers TPD officers face every day.
Southbound Capital Circle NW was closed from Hartsfield Road to Commonwealth Blvd for several hours.
