We lost one of our heroes today,’ St. Lucie sheriff says of deputy fatally shot this morning -

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

The man accused in the shooting death of a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputy this morning is a 25-year-old felon who lived not far from where the deputy was shot, according to records and Sheriff Ken Mascara.

Eriese Alphonso Tisdale is accused of killing Sgt. Gary Morales, 35, during what Mascara called a routine traffic stop this morning in unincorporated St. Lucie County.

“We lost one of our heroes today,” Mascara said.

Morales had pulled over a car for unknown reasons in the 3200 block of Naylor Terrace about 9:30 a.m. when a man got out of the stopped car and fired at Morales. Morales, a 13-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, opened his squad car door but “never had a chance” to get out of his car before he was shot, Mascara said this afternoon during a news conference at sheriff’s headquarters. A photo of Morales, who had a wife and two daughters, stood on the podium as Mascara spoke.

After Morales was shot, a second deputy arrived and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Neither was hit and the suspect took off in his car. He was arrested not far from the initial stop without incident, Mascara said.


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