Palm Bay police fatally shoot man suspected of killing his mother
Woman found shot to death in Martin County
Palm Bay, Fl- (treasurecoast.com) Palm Bay police on Sunday shot and killed a man linked to the death of his mother, who had been shot earlier in the day in Martin County, according to authorities.
The man, identified Monday afternoon as Christopher Ruffin, was confronted by police after officers received a call from a woman who said her husband or fiancé had pointed a gun at her.
Palm Bay police sent out a reverse 911 call to neighbors, advising them to stay indoors as officers searched for the man.
After a tip from a resident later in the day, officers located Christopher Ruffin on Karney Avenue near Dogwood Street.
“Our officers arrived, along with our deputies, and challenged the individual to drop his firearm and a shooting ensued soon afterward,” Palm Bay Chief Nelson Moya said.
The man was struck by gunfire and later died at a hospital, police said.
Hours before the officer-involved shooting, Martin County deputies found the suspect’s mother, Christine Ruffin, dead from a gunshot wound in her home during a welfare check. Records show she was shot in the back of the head and was found lying on a couch with most of her body covered by a blanket.
Martin County investigators said Christopher Ruffin was a person of interest in his mother’s death.
Four police officers, a deputy from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and several witness officers have been placed on administration leave, which is standard procedure in agency-related shootings. The Florida Department Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting.