ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. – The man accused of shooting and killing an off-duty Edgewater police officer took a plea deal Monday and is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison without parole.
Eduardo Machado had been facing the death penalty in connection with the September shooting at a Circle K gas station on Ocean Shore Boulevard and Wisteria Drive in Ormond-by-the-Sea.
Machado had pleaded not guilty, but on Monday changed his plea to no contest to first-degree murder.
Jewell’s family was in the courtroom as the sentence came down.
“I am glad that they got to see some closure and see who took somebody that meant so much to them away,” Edgewater Police Chief Charles Geiger.
“I’m now a widow at 38 years old. Widow of a man who lived with a purpose to make a difference in people’s lives every day, and took pride in doing so. That goodness was taken from this world when he was murdered,” said Elizabeth Jewell.
Machado worked as a clerk at the Circle K where the shooting happened. According to the arrest report, Machado told deputies he was having a bad day, had thought about shooting David Jewell before work, and “walked into the store, did not say anything to the person, and shot him.”
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Prosecutors say the motive remains a mystery, but argue the evidence makes clear the murder was premeditated.
The shooting was captured on camera, and investigators said Machado had confessed to the killing. State Attorney RJ Larizza announced his office’s intent to pursue the death penalty shortly after the shooting, but again, now Machado will stay in prison.