The Titusville Police Department, in Florida, released video of the fatal officer-involved shooting in February that killed a four-time convicted felon armed with an extended magazine Glock modified with a Glock Switch.
The chief delayed the release of the video until the Office of the State Attorney completed its review of the independent investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The Titusville Police Department’s officer-involved shooting was determined to have been lawful and justified.
Titusville Police Chief John Lau provided a detailed explanation of the shooting and events in the neighborhood before the shooting, as he narrated the video.
In the video, Lau painted a picture of a home that was the epicenter of gun violence in the neighborhood, provided heat maps showing violent crime in the area, and played several 911 calls from various prior reports of shots fired near the home.
“For over a month prior to this officer-involved shooting, this specific address was the location of repeated calls for service, with nine of them involving gun violence, to include shots fired calls. The reckless use of a firearm in a residential area has the potential to cause anyone in the vicinity great bodily harm,” Lau said in the video. “In the weeks leading up to the officer-involved shooting on February 7, 2025, we received numerous emergency 911 calls from concerned citizens who were worried about their safety and the safety of others.”
The chief explained how the Special Investigations Team had purchased illegal drugs from the home and, as a result, developed probable cause for a search warrant, which was served two days before the shooting.
During warrant service, officers found 15 people in or around the small 700-square-foot home and recovered narcotics and one handgun. Lau said officers received reports that just before officers arrived, a bucket of guns was removed from the home and taken to another nearby residence.
Two days later, on Feb. 7, police again received calls reporting gunfire in the area of the home and learned there was going to be a house party at the residence.
According to the chief, with this information, the on-duty patrol sergeant met with his squad to develop a plan to prevent further acts of gun violence. As a result, several uniformed patrol officers responded to the address and established a perimeter around this house.
Lau continued and said one officer announced his presence and asked everyone to exit the home.
“Two occupants exited the house. Suddenly, a third subject, Tri-Marea Charles, ran through the front door, and in doing so, tripped over the homeowner's walker, falling to the ground. During his fall, a handgun fell from Charles's waistband onto the walkway directly in front of Officer One,” the chief said.
The video shows the gun falling after Charles tripped. Then, following a struggle with the officer, Charles is shown getting free, going back to pick up the gun, and then running away.
Body-worn video shows the man armed with a handgun.Titusville Police Department video screenshot
He was shot by officers during the foot chase as he moved the gun into his right hand and turned toward an officer. Following the shooting, officers immediately rendered aid to the wounded man.
The chief added further details and noted that the firearm Charles possessed was a Glock 21 FS, equipped with a Glock Switch. The chief said the state crime determined it was the same firearm that had been used in five separate violent crimes, including an attempted murder and a robbery, in Fort Lauderdale.
The Glock Switch-equipped handgun was linked to five other violent crimes.
