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BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The State Attorney’s Office for the 18th Judicial Circuit has upgraded the charge against former Brevard County Sheriff’s deputy Andrew Jacob Lawson to second degree murder in connection with the December 2022 shooting death of his roommate and fellow deputy, Austin Walsh.
An amended information was e-filed Wednesday morning, April 16, 2026, charging Lawson with second degree murder reclassified by use of a firearm, along with possession and discharge of a firearm causing death, a life felony.
The upgraded charge carries drastically more severe consequences than the original manslaughter charge. Under Florida Statute 782.04(2), second degree murder is defined as an unlawful killing perpetrated by an act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual. It is classified as a first degree felony punishable by up to life in prison.
With the firearm reclassification, Lawson now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison under Florida’s 10-20-Life law if convicted.
According to Administrative Investigator Donna Seyferth of the State Attorney’s Office, there had been an April 15 deadline for Lawson and his defense attorney, Alan Landman, to accept or reject a plea offer from the prosecution. That deadline passed without acceptance, and the upgraded charge was filed.
State Attorney William Scheiner’s office filed the amended information through prosecutor Stone, who has been the lead prosecutor on the case throughout its proceedings.
The case stems from the early morning hours of December 3, 2022, when Lawson and Walsh, both off-duty Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies and roommates, were at their Palm Bay residence playing video games. According to the arrest affidavit, the two had taken a break from playing Call of Duty when Lawson pointed a Glock 34 9mm semi-automatic pistol at Walsh, which he claimed to believe was unloaded, and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire. Lawson then racked the slide, chambering a round, and pulled the trigger a second time. The bullet struck Walsh in the face below his eye, killing him instantly. Walsh was 23 years old.
Lawson called 911 immediately and cooperated with responding officers from the Palm Bay Police Department. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey described the shooting at the time as an “extremely dumb and totally avoidable” incident, noting that Lawson was “completely devastated.”
Lawson was initially charged with manslaughter with a weapon in January 2023. He was released on a $15,000 bond and permitted to live with his mother.
On January 15, 2026, Lawson pleaded guilty to manslaughter under a plea agreement that capped any prison sentence at seven years. The Walsh family strongly objected, with Austin’s mother, Cheryl Walsh, calling the deal “insulting” and asking Judge Michelle Naberhaus to reject it.
During testimony over two hearing days, Lawson’s own statements worked against him. FDLE lead investigator Scott Ratliff testified that Lawson refused to acknowledge that his actions were reckless during his post-shooting interview. Lawson also suggested during testimony that Walsh may have loaded the gun while Lawson was showing it to him earlier that day, and stated that pointing guns at each other and pulling the trigger was something the two deputies did regularly.
On January 30, Judge Naberhaus took the rare step of rejecting the plea deal, stating she could not sentence Lawson under its terms. Lawson was given the option to withdraw his plea, enter an open plea with no sentencing cap, or attempt to renegotiate. He chose to withdraw.
Defense attorney Landman expressed shock at the judge’s decision, telling reporters he had never seen a plea deal rejected in his 39 years of practice. State Attorney Scheiner said outside the courtroom that he supported the judge’s decision, noting that the more Lawson spoke during the hearings, the more aggravating the factors became.
With the charge now upgraded to second degree murder with a firearm, the case moves into significantly different legal territory. Under the original manslaughter charge, Lawson faced a maximum of 30 years if convicted at trial. The original plea deal only allowed for 7 years incarceration, and Landman argued for ZERO time incarceration for Lawson. The deal was rejected by the judge. The second degree murder charge with firearm enhancements makes the offense a life felony, meaning Lawson could be sentenced to life in prison.
A docket sounding had previously been set for April 29, 2026. It remains to be seen whether Landman will pursue a trial strategy or seek to negotiate a new plea arrangement under the upgraded charge.
The case is being heard before Circuit Judge Michelle Naberhaus at the Moore Justice Center in Viera. The case number is 05-2022-CF-054996.
The Space Coast Rocket has covered this case since the night of the shooting in December 2022. This is a developing story.
