Raymond Warner was a 54-year-old deputy with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office who died in the line of duty on June 13, 1996, in Merritt Island, Florida. Around 12:15 am he and another deputy responded to a burglary alarm at Merritt Island High School. Entering the school office, Deputy Warner was ambushed by a suspect hiding under a table in a back office and attacked from behind. During a violent struggle the suspect obtained Deputy Warner’s service weapon and shot him seven times, causing immediate death.

The other deputy was shot in the knee but returned fire and fatally wounded the suspect. The suspect had been on probation and was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to three other school break-ins in the area; investigators concluded the suspect acted alone. Deputy Warner had served with the sheriff’s office for 15 years and his death was described as a profound loss.

If anyone has information about Deputy Warner, his service, or the events that night, please share what is known.