Volusia County sheriff’s deputies shot dead Derek Cruice, 26, while serving a narcotics search warrant at the house he shared with five roommates on Maybrook Drive in Deltona around 6:30 a.m. on 4 March 2015.[1][2][3] Deputy Todd Raible, a member of the sheriff’s SWAT team, fired a single shot that struck the unarmed, shirtless Cruice in the face as deputies entered the house.[2][3] Cruice was pronounced dead at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, and no weapons were found in the house.[1][2]

Cruice had been the subject of an ongoing narcotics investigation, and the search uncovered about nine ounces of marijuana along with scales, a drug ledger, pipes, plastic bags and thousands of dollars in cash.[1][2] Sheriff Ben Johnson said deputies were met with resistance, and Raible was placed on administrative leave while the shooting was investigated.[2] Cruice’s roommates said he had not resisted: Matt Grady, who opened the door, said he heard the shot seconds after officers pushed him to the ground, and Steven Cochran said he watched it happen and Cruice was not struggling.[2]