📍 Volusia County, FL — October 13, 2025
In a decisive move underscoring the gravity of the crime, State Attorney R.J. Larizza filed a formal notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Eduardo Labrada Machado, who was indicted Monday on a charge of First-Degree Murder (Firearm) in the killing of off-duty Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell.
Officer Jewell, a respected member of the Edgewater Police Department, was gunned down in a brutal attack at a convenience store near his Ormond-by-the-Sea home on the evening of September 15, 2025. According to investigators, Jewell was shot 20 times and died at the scene. The sheer violence of the act and the targeting of a law enforcement officer have sent shockwaves through the community and law enforcement agencies across Volusia County.
The case was investigated by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, and Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak is leading the prosecution. The decision to pursue capital punishment reflects the State Attorney’s Office’s stance on crimes involving the murder of public servants and the use of extreme violence.
“This was a calculated and heinous act against a man who dedicated his life to protecting others,” Larizza said in a statement. “We will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Volusia County Grand Jury also handed down indictments in two other fatal cases:
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Stevens Charles, 24, faces a litany of charges stemming from a deadly head-on collision that occurred on September 16, 2025. Charles was allegedly fleeing Flagler County deputies at speeds exceeding 110 mph when he crashed into another vehicle at the I-95 off-ramp on US-1 in Ormond Beach. The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, succumbed to blunt force injuries at the hospital. Charles has been charged with First-Degree Felony Murder, Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Fleeing or Attempting to Elude with Serious Injury or Death, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Death. The Florida Highway Patrol is leading the investigation, and Assistant State Attorney Helen Schwartz is prosecuting the case.
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Brian Whittaker, 38, was indicted for First-Degree Murder (Firearm) after allegedly shooting his neighbor multiple times outside their condo complex in Deltona on September 29, 2025. Witnesses reported hearing an argument followed by gunfire. The victim died at the scene. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office is investigating, and Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak is also prosecuting this case.
All three cases remain active, with arraignments and pre-trial proceedings expected in the coming weeks. The indictments mark a significant moment for the Volusia County judicial system, as prosecutors prepare to pursue justice in three separate incidents that have deeply affected local communities.
“These are tragic cases that highlight the devastating consequences of violence,” Larizza added. “Our office is committed to holding offenders accountable and ensuring that victims and their families receive the justice they deserve.”
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