Deputy Sheriff Joshua Moyers
Officer: Nassau County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Sheriff Joshua Moyers
Date: 9/26/2021 Location: Callahan, FL FACTORS (1,2,8,9,15)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Patrick Rene McDowell
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, McDowell had prior arrests for aggravated possession of stolen firearms, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, and an earlier conviction for forgery./Yes, he was driving a stolen vehicle and unlawfully in possession of a firearm at the time of the traffic stop.
Mental Illness: Yes, McDowell served in combat as a U.S. Marine, suffered from “depression, seizures, and post-traumatic stress syndrome” and has been “committed for psychiatric evaluation.”
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, McDowell has prior drug-related arrests and was on drug-offender probation.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/35
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 2:30 a.m. on September 24, 2021, Deputy Sheriff Joshua Moyers conducted a vehicle and traffic stop on a minivan operated by Patrick McDowell that authorities would later find out was stolen. Deputy Moyers ordered McDowell to step out of the minivan after McDowell failed to produce a driver’s license and then gave the deputy a fake name.
Actions taken by subject toward police: As Deputy Moyers put his hand on the car door to open it, McDowell shot him in the face and then in the back, before driving off with his female passenger in the car.
Reactions by the police: Another deputy responding to assist on the traffic stop found Deputy Moyers severely wounded and got him transported to the hospital where unfortunately he died two days later. An intense manhunt was conducted and after five days, McDowell was found hiding in a concession stand and was taken into custody without further incident.
How murdered? Deputy Moyers was fatally shot while conducting a traffic stop.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Deputy Moyers could have insisted on McDowell putting his hands on the steering wheel while the deputy was positioned behind the driver’s side door and McDowell would not have had an easy shot even though he apparently already had the firearm in his hand.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? Technically yes, realistically no. Deputy Moyers would have been justified to use deadly force if he felt threatened by McDowell not showing his hands and suddenly making a furtive movement – however if the Deputy was beside the driver’s door and not to the rear of it, once McDowell committed to shooting the deputy, there was little Moyers could do at that point.
Outcome for the cop-killer: McDowell was arrested and faces charges of first-degree murder, injuring a police dog, and eight counts of assault on a law enforcement officer.
Miscellaneous: At some point during the five day search for McDowell, he is believed to have shot a police K-9 that was on his trail.
