Deadly Shooting: State Attorney Still Investigating
Patch has been following the deadly shooting of East Lake resident Brandon Baker prior to the launch of East Lake Patch. Patch has learned that the triggerman, Seth Browning, has returned to his job as a security guard.
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Five months after an early-morning altercation between two drivers ended with a deadly shooting on a road in Boot Ranch, the investigation into the death of 30-year-old East Lake resident Brandon Baker continues, and his family is waiting for the outcome.
State Attorney Bernie McCabe's office is investigating the March 6 shooting, which a Pinellas County Sheriff's detective had told Baker's father appeared to be a "stand your ground" case. The controversial Florida law allows people to protect themselves when they have a reasonable fear for their lives.
The man who shot Brandon Baker is a 23-year-old security guard named Seth Browning, authorities say. Browning was off-duty at the time of the shooting and told detectives he followed Baker to get his license tag information because he was concerned about his driving. Baker, who was unarmed, was shot and killed during the confrontation that happened on a road leading to Baker's apartment. Browning says he fired when Baker allegedly hit him and continued to go after him after he sprayed Baker with mace (read previous coverage about the shooting).
The case was turned over to the state attorney's office in April. As of Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for McCabe's office says the case is still under investigation.
Shortly after the shooting, Browning was placed on administrative leave from his job at Largo-based Critical Intervention Services (CIS). On Thursday, a spokesperson for CIS told East Lake Patch that Browning is back at work.
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Brandon Baker's family is still coping with their loss. On Thursday, Baker's father, Kevin Lindsay, told East Lake Patch that Brandon's mother Bonnie still gets choked up when she talks about Brandon, and that healing will be a long process.
Baker also explained what he knows about the investigation into his son's death: "It is kind of up to what Bernie McCabe is going to do."
Lindsay said he is unsure whether Browning will be charged in connection with his son's death.
"They don't have a whole lot to stand on to convict him," he said. "There's not a whole lot of evidence to support that he did anything wrong."
Lindsay was not happy to learn that his son's killer was back on the job.
"It doesn't feel good to know that the guy who shot my son has his gun back and is back at work," he said.
Previous Coverage-
Sunde Farquhar
8:19 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
This is such a sad story. Our hearts go out to all impacted by this tragedy.
Roni
12:54 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
I am a concealed weapons owner and I don't feel that stand your ground has anything to do with this incident. The off duty guard should not have taken it upon himself to follow Brandon, and if he was not a security guard, would he have followed? Probably not.He should have called police and let them handle it. When Brandon approached the vehicle he should have left. Anyone who is followed without cause has the right to know why someone is following them, and if the follower is not a Police officer then the followee should be inquisitive. There are alot of crazy people out there, impersonators as well. You never know when someone is having a fit of road rage and that may be why they are following you. My heart goes out to this family and their loss. It was a stupid senseless death that could have been prevented.