RIVERVIEW, Fla. — A former law enforcement volunteer died by suicide overnight amid an investigation into accusations of sexual abuse.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that Edward Brito, who had volunteered from February 2021 until June 2022, had been found dead.
The sheriff’s office said he sexually battered two women early Monday morning, then proceeded to take his own life at a home in Riverview. According to Chief Deputy Donna Lusczynski, Brito had approached a woman outside the home around 11:15 p.m. Sunday and forced her inside at gunpoint where another woman was present.
"During the course of the evening, he sexually battered both subjects," Lusczynski told reporters during a news conference. "And then at one point turned the firearm on himself and shot himself."
The women were able to call 911 around 4:30 a.m. Monday.
But, investigators had already been looking into him. Previously, in early June, Brito had been served a domestic violence injunction for sexual battery of one of the same individuals. He'd been taken off the volunteer list at that point.
“Brito’s volunteer status was immediately terminated as an investigation into the June incident was underway,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement. “HCSO is still awaiting DNA evidence from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) regarding that investigation, which may have led to criminal charges against him.”
All Brito’s sheriff’s office equipment, including an agency-issued firearm, was seized when he was let go on June 5. So, Lusczynski said detectives are trying to determine how Brito got ahold of the other gun he used overnight.
During the time he was a volunteer, Brito was classified as an unpaid, armed Reserve II deputy who logged about 38 hours per month. Reserve II perform general law enforcement tasks while being supervised by full-time deputies. They are often seen helping with off-duty details at community events.
“While mental health is often a factor in incidents of suicide, the actions of this former volunteer are monstrous and a clear example of domestic violence. Our agency goes through great lengths to identify individuals like this who should never wear the badge of Deputy Sheriff, from extensive background checks, polygraphs, interviews with neighbors, and personal and professional references,” Sheriff Chad Chronister wrote in a statement.
Chronister said domestic violence is never acceptable and won’t be tolerated at the sheriff’s office.
“I encourage anyone experiencing domestic violence to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for help at 813-247-8200 or reach out to one of many local resources, such as our community partners at the Spring of Tampa Bay at 813-247-7233,” he added.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-7233.