MIAMI — Miami-Dade Deputy Devin Jaramillo was responding to a routine traffic crash Friday afternoon, a law enforcement duty performed dozens of times every day by both civilian teams and trained deputies at the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

But he did not expect a “random” spat of chaos would ensue that would end with a scuffle, his murder and his killer turning the gun on himself, according to new details shared by the sheriff’s office Saturday.

Routine crash turns fatal

Around 3:50 p.m. Friday, Jaramillo, 27, was called to a “minor traffic crash” — he was the only deputy sent to handle the crash as is policy for collisions with minor damage, said Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz during a Saturday press conference.

Jaramillo, who was assigned to the Kendall District Station, was working the crash when Steven David Rustrian, a 21-year-old involved in the collision, began arguing with him. It’s unclear why, but things quickly escalated to a physical scuffle, she said.

CBS Miami, a Miami Herald news partner, reports that a source with knowledge of the investigation said Rustrian fled the scene of the crash and went into a nearby parking lot to possibly evade authorities, and then he switched seats with his passenger. Jaramillo spoke with the passenger, who at first said he was driving but quickly admitted it was Rustrian.

Deputies did confirm they detained another person who was involved in the crash and the ensuing shooting, but they were later released, and no formal charges were filed.

When the deputy questioned Rustrian, the scuffle began, the source told CBS.

Video shared with the Herald showed Jaramillo trying to subdue Rustrian on the ground, the pair rolling around in the grass. As Jaramillo was on top of Rustrian, straddling him, Rustrian grabbed Jaramillo’s gun and shot him several times, the video showed and Cordero-Stutz confirmed.

She assured that Jaramillo “handled himself in a professional and tactically sound manner” before the chaos ensued.

CBS Miami’s source reports the deputy was shot about seven times.

Rumors have swirled that Jaramillo was at the center of an ambush or that his murder was part of planned retribution, but Cordero-Stutz reaffirmed that his death was a random encounter that could have happened to any deputy that day.

“People need to understand that for us, there’s evil lurking over our shoulder wherever we are and whatever we’re doing,” she said.

After Rustrian shot Jaramillo, he went into his own car and fatally shot himself.

Good Samaritans called 911 and aid was given to Jaramillo before he was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

“He was transported to the hospital where all life-saving measures were taken,” she said. “I’m grateful and thankful to the hospital staff, who tried their best to save him but were unable too.”

‘Smart, strong, handsome and young’

As Cordero-Stutz addressed the media for the second time about her deputy’s murder it was clear she was holding back strong emotions. When she began to share how committed Jaramillo was to service and the smiles he brought to his colleagues, she paused in grim silence.

“He was an athlete, a football player, smart, strong, handsome and young,” she said, detailing how he was a homegrown hero born in Baptist Hospital, attended Killian High School and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Central Florida.

“He could have done anything with his professional career, but he chose public service, and he chose to do it in this community to serve us, and he gave the ultimate price in his service,” Cordero-Stutz said.

Jaramillo’s father was a veteran police officer who influenced him greatly. Dubbed a “legacy kid,” his peers held him the highest regards.

“His immediate peers at the Kendall station are destroyed,” she said. “He was what every parent would want their kid to grow into.”

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