The Central Florida community is mourning the tragic loss of A’jazia Bellamy Rodriguez, a devoted 20-year-old mother, whose life was taken on Friday morning, July 10, 2026, in a domestic violence incident outside her workplace.
The incident, which occurred in the employee parking lot of the Spectrum facility located at 1004 US Highway 92 West in Auburndale, culminated in an officer-involved shooting after the suspect drew a weapon on arriving law enforcement personnel. Rodriguez is survived by her three-year-old son, Ryder Rodriguez.
| Parameter | Official Regional, Corporate, & Investigative Record |
| Full Legal Name | A’jazia Bellamy Rodriguez |
| Age | 20 years old |
| Date of Passing | Friday, July 10, 2026 |
| Incident Scene | Employee Parking Lot, Spectrum (1004 US-92 W, Auburndale, FL) |
| Professional Role | Customer Service Agent in Training, Spectrum |
| Primary Suspect | Derrick Brathwaite (Age 39; Deceased) |
| Surviving Child | Son: Ryder Rodriguez (Age 3) |
| Investigating Entity | 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force |
| Funeral Fund Hub | GoFundMe organized by Lavetta Bellamy (Lake Wales, FL) |
Chronological Overview of the July 10 Tragedy
According to investigative briefings detailed by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and the Auburndale Police Department, the sequence of events began unfolding early Friday morning.
1. Pre-Incident Timeline
On the day prior to the shooting, witnesses reported that 39-year-old Derrick Brathwaite had explicitly threatened Rodriguez’s life, stating that he intended to kill her and then commit suicide. On Friday morning, Rodriguez departed her home in Lake Wales and traveled to Waverly, Florida, where she dropped off her 3-year-old son, Ryder, at Brathwaite’s parents’ residence. She then made a brief stop at a local Wendy’s before commuting to her morning shift at the Auburndale Spectrum facility.
2. The Ambush and Law Enforcement Response
At approximately 9:12 a.m., the Polk County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received desperate 911 calls reporting a suicide and shots fired in progress within the Spectrum employee parking lot. Investigators determined that Brathwaite had approached Rodriguez immediately after she parked her vehicle, firing multiple fatal rounds.
[9:12 AM - EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMELINE]
│
├─► 911 Calls Received: Reports of active gunfire at Spectrum Lot
├─► First Responders Arrive: Rodriguez found down; suspect armed on ground
├─► Aggression Escalates: Suspect points firearm directly at arriving officers
└─► Defensive Discharge: 7 Law Enforcement Personnel fire; suspect neutralized
When local police officers and sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered Rodriguez on the ground with severe gunshot wounds. Positioned nearby was Brathwaite, who was also on the ground wounded but remained actively armed with a handgun.
As five Auburndale Police officers and two Polk County Sheriff’s deputies advanced to render medical aid, Brathwaite raised and pointed his firearm directly at the responding personnel. In response to the immediate threat, all seven officers discharged their weapons, fatally neutralizing the suspect. Medical personnel performed life-saving procedures on both individuals, but both succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
Administrative Mandates and Suspect History
In compliance with standard state protocols regarding officer-involved deadly force incidents, the five Auburndale Police officers and two Polk County Sheriff’s deputies have been placed on standard administrative leave with pay.
The primary independent inquiry is being spearheads-managed by the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force, alongside simultaneous internal reviews handled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Auburndale Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Administrative Investigations Unit. No law enforcement officers sustained physical injuries during the confrontation.
During the press briefing, Sheriff Grady Judd characterized the encounter as a definitive case of “suicide-by-cop” initiated by the suspect. He further disclosed that Brathwaite possessed a prolific, violent criminal record, documenting 31 prior felony arrests and 24 misdemeanor charges throughout his adult life.
Corporate leadership at Spectrum released an official statement addressing the loss within their facility infrastructure:
“We are saddened by the tragic incident that occurred this morning outside our Auburndale, Florida, facility. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted. The safety and well-being of our employees remains our top priority. The facility was secured while law enforcement responded. We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are providing support to our employees.”
Community Rallies to Protect Young Ryder’s Future
Beyond her professional role as a customer service agent in training, A’jazia was remembered by her family as an incredibly hard-working, deeply compassionate young mother whose entire life revolved around securing a bright future for her child.
To offset the sudden financial strain of unexpected funeral, memorial, and burial expenses, her family—led by organizer Lavetta Bellamy of Lake Wales—has established an official memorial fund. The family issued a public plea for solidarity as they navigate an unimaginable grieving process:
“Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of A’jazia Bellamy Rodriguez, a beautiful 20-year-old mother whose life was taken far too soon… A’jazia was a loving, kind, and hardworking young woman whose greatest joy was her 3-year-old son, Ryder Rodriguez. She worked hard to provide for him and dreamed of giving him the best life possible. In an unimaginable tragedy, Ryder has now lost his mother, and our family has lost someone who was deeply loved.”
Community members wishing to assist the family are encouraged to contribute directly to the verified localized fundraising channels or extend support through regional domestic violence advocacy organizations in Central Florida.