Internal investigation finds deputies justified in June Englewood shooting

New details from an internal investigation has found two Charlotte County deputies’ use of force justified in a shooting that killed an armed man outside his home.

We spoke exclusively to the daughter of the man, who gave her account of the night and shed light on her U.S. Navy veteran father’s struggle with PTSD.

And a law enforcement expert explained what he believes caused the man to standoff against deputies.

In June, two Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies were placed on administrative leave after shooting and killing armed Bradley Rundle, 61, in front of his Englewood home along McKinley Terrace.

A 911 caller reported Rundle was drunk and had a gun. The caller said he fired multiple rounds inside the home while family members and children were present.

Rundle came out of the home with a firearm and began walking toward the deputies. He was given several orders to drop his weapon, but deputies say he didn’t comply. Rundle reportedly fired a round toward them, and the two deputies returned fire, fatally shooting him. Deputies reportedly fired 48 rounds with long rifles toward Rundle, hitting him twice.

“Something just turned my dad into the man that we just did not recognize,” daughter Mary Rundle explained to WINK News.

The internal investigation justifies the actions of the two deputies, who were found to be protecting themselves from Rundle shooting toward them, with a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal driving limit.

Rundle’s family ran say the ran from him the night of the shooting.

“It wasn’t my dad that night at all,” Mary said. “He was just like, like the demon just took over him.”

She said her father, who was a Navy veteran, suffered from PTSD but was not undergoing treatment the night of the fatal shooting.

“I would see some of his outbursts,” Mary said. “But it wasn’t anything like that. Just a lot of sadness and depression.”

Dr. David Thomas, an FGCU professor with a Ph.D. in forensic psychology, said it’s clear what Rundle’s motive was the night of the shooting.

“This label was clearly suicide by cop,” Thomas said.

Thomas believes Rundle understood what he did.

“A lot of times what happens is people don’t have it within them to kill themselves,” Thomas said. “And so what they do is facilitate, then force law enforcement to take their lives.”

As the Rundle family deals with the aftermath of that tragic night, they want others to seek treatment that can save them from the tragedy that claimed Rundle’s life.

“PTSD and mental illness is a real thing,” Mary said.

There sheriff’s office has not released the names of the deputies involved in the shooting. They told us their identities are protected by Marsy’s Law.

The Rundle family told us they don’t see a reason for CCSO to release the names of the two deputies, explaining the law enforcement officers simply protected themselves during a dangerous situation.

The state attorney’s office is leading the review if the internal investigation.

MORE: Armed man fatally shot by two Charlotte County deputies