Florida Volunteer Fire Chief Accused Of Fatally Shooting Man Over ‘Dispute About Prior Business Deals’: Sheriff

The chief of a volunteer fire department in Florida was arrested in connection to the shooting death of a business owner who allegedly owed him money, authorities said.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Brian Keith Easterling, 52, was arrested at his home in Holt on June 6 and charged with premeditated murder.

The previous day, deputies performing a wellness check at a Texaco station in Pensacola discovered the body of the 63-year-old victim inside, NorthEscambia.com reported, citing a police report.

According to the report, an officer went inside the shop and tripped over a car cover, which exposed the elbow of the dead man who was lying underneath.

The victim was shot in the back of the head, the sheriff's office said.

Surveillance video recorded June 2 around 5:15 p.m. and recovered from the shop allegedly “showed how the homicide unfolded,” the sheriff’s office said, claiming Easterling “entered the business and shot the business owner over a dispute about prior business deals, where the victim allegedly owed Easterling money.”

Easterling has been suspended from his job as chief of the Baker Fire District. He was extradited from Okaloosa County to Escambia County, where he is being held without bond.

Police have not released the name of the murder victim.