Two Deputies Cleared in 2010 Shooting Death

April 1, 2011

The State Attorney’s Office said Thursday that last year’s officer involved shooting at a Pensacola motel was justified.

Michael Scott Lee was shot September 29, 2010, at the Motel 6 on Pensacola Boulevard. A total of 12 rounds were fired at Lee by two Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that had responded to the motel room in response to a Pensacola Police Department missing persons case. Deputy Jason Ates and Deputy Jennifer Lovely-Gandy returned fire after Aties was shot in the upper thigh.

“Based on the facts of this case, it was reasonable for Deputy Ates and Deputy Lovley-Gandy to believe that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others,” Assistant State Attorney Bridgette M. Jensen said in her final report on the incident. “No further legal action is warranted.”

Blood and urine tests showed that Lee had multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death, including Cannabis and methamphetamine.

Pictured above: The scene after a deputy was shot and a suspect was shot and killed in September at the Motel 6 on Pensacola Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com file photo courtesy WEAR TV, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Two Deputies Cleared in 2010 Shooting Death”

  1. Steve on April 1st, 2011 10:22 pm

    A slam-dunk if I ever saw one, the wheels of justice do grind slowly. The deputies involved had to make their decision in the twinkling of an eye, I’m glad they made the right one. If the shooter had made the right decision it would have saved everyone time and trouble…

  2. letmespeak13 on April 1st, 2011 7:58 pm

    How sad that they “had” to be cleared.

  3. no longer in Bratt... on April 1st, 2011 11:36 am

    Multiple is more than one.
    Twins=multiple birth.

  4. Driv3n on April 1st, 2011 12:39 am

    “Blood and urine tests showed that Lee had multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death, including Cannabis and methamphetamine.”

    How many is multiple? Why only list these two specifically?