Clearwater Police Officers Cleared In Fatal Shooting June 8

CLEARWATER, FL — The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office has concluded that the June 8 fatal shooting of Bryan Wallace by two Clearwater Police officers was a justifiable homicide.

Officers Justin Buis and Michael Diaz have returned to their patrol duties. An internal review of the incident is ongoing.

Clearwater Police were called to LaSalle Street north of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue at 6:27 p.m. June 8 after receiving a report of a man waving a gun at a crowd.

Buis and Diaz arrived and looked for the man for about 30 minutes but was unable to find him.

At 7:09 p.m., while still in the area, the two officers were told the same man with a gun was back in the area. They returned and found Bryan Bernard Wallace, 40, of the 1600 block of Stevenson Drive, Clearwater, who matched the description provided by bystanders.

While Buis and Diaz were giving him orders, a gun fell from his waistband. Wallace began to reach for the gun despite instructions from the officers to stop. In fear for their safety and others in the area, Diaz and Buis fired their weapons.

Wallace died after being taken to Morton Plant Hospital.

See related story: Investigation Underway Into Fatal Shooting By Clearwater Officers