By Marlene Lenthang -
NBC News
A Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputy in Florida was shot and killed by his friend and housemate over the weekend in what authorities described as a
"clearly foolish and preventable accident."
Austin Walsh, 23, died Saturday morning in Palm Bay after being shot by Andrew Lawson's gun, Sheriff Wayne Ivey reported at a news conference Sunday.
Austin Walsh. Brevard County Sheriff's Office
The two were taking a break from playing video games with friends and were standing and talking together when Lawson, who believed he had discharged his pistol, "jokingly" pointed the gun at Walsh and pulled the trigger, Ivey said, citing the investigation. Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Palm Bay Police Department.
A single bullet was fired, hitting and killing Walsh
, according to authorities.
Lawson immediately called 911 saying he had accidentally shot his friend and needed help, Ivey said.
When officers arrived, they found Lawson "totally distraught and devastated."
They found Walsh inside the residence where he "apparently succumbed immediately" to a gunshot wound, Ivey said.
The sheriff added that
the two men were "the best of friends"
and that Lawson is "completely devastated" by what happened.
"Even with that, there is no excuse for this tragic and entirely preventable death," Ivey added.
He was arrested on Sunday
Following the investigation, Lawson was taken into custody Sunday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and taken to the Brevard County Jail, Ivey said.
It is not clear if Lawson has retained an attorney.
NBC News has contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for comment.
[A Venezuelan boy accidentally kills his brother while they were playing with a shotgun in Texas]
"My friends, this unnecessary and totally preventable incident not only claimed the life of an incredible young man, but has forever changed the life of another fine young man who made an extremely poor and reckless decision," Ivey insisted.
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The sheriff said that talking about the fatal incident was "one of the hardest days of my career," as he loved both officers and believed that they were both "good guys."
Walsh had served with the agency since he was 18 years old and was part of its youth scouts program before that, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
“I pray that a lesson is learned from this tragedy,” Ivey said.