Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell has released new details regarding the tragic events that unfolded on Sunday afternoon, leaving Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Corporal Elio Diaz and his shooter, 24-year-old Andrew Mostyn Jr., dead.
The sequence of events began around 4:00 PM when Corporal Diaz conducted a routine traffic stop on a white pickup truck at the Chevron Gas Station located at 4968 Tamiami Trail. The situation escalated rapidly when Mostyn Jr. exited the vehicle armed with a rifle and opened fire on Diaz, striking him multiple times before fleeing the scene in his truck.
In the hours that followed, a large-scale search was launched to locate Mostyn Jr., who was later found by deputies parked at the Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen on Sandhill Boulevard. When deputies approached the suspect, he raised his rifle and attempted to aim at the officers, posing an immediate threat to their safety.
In response, one deputy engaged with deadly force, shooting Mostyn Jr. in the head. Emergency services quickly transported him via AeroMed helicopter to Gulf Coast Medical Center, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly before 9:00 PM on Sunday night.
Corporal Diaz, who sustained critical injuries during the initial encounter, was rushed by EMS to ShorePoint Health. Sadly, medical personnel were unable to save his life, and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Sheriff Prummell addressed the media and explained that the delay in releasing information about the incident was intentional, as he prioritized notifying Corporal Diaz’s next of kin. Diaz’s family was given the opportunity to say their final goodbyes at ShorePoint Health before the Sheriff shared the devastating news publicly.
The dual crime scenes—Chevron Gas Station and Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen—remain under police investigation, though the law enforcement presence at both locations has since been scaled down.
