PBSO Deputy Identified in Fatal Shooting of Royal Palm Beach Teen

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the deputy who shot and killed 16-year-old Ruben DeBrosse. Deputy Eric Bethel has been put on paid leave. PBSO says it's routine in these circumstance until the investigation is complete.

Today we sat down with the sheriff's office and went through Bethel's personnel files. The deputy has been with the department since October of 2006. Although he started his law enforcement career with the Royal Palm Beach Police in 2004 and went to PBSO after the agencies merged. He had one complaint report in his file--in May of 2007 he backed a sheriff's vehicle into a garbage can.

Deputy Bethel shot DeBrosse early Saturday morning. The 16-year-old was pulled over after the deputy noticed he was driving a stolen car. PBSO says during the stop, Debrosse put the car in reverse twice.  First, crashing into the sheriff vehicle. Second, according to authorities, he tried to run over Deputy Bethel.

Bethel fired four shots. Two hit the 16 year old, who later died at St Mary's hospital.

Today, his MySpace page has become a make shift memorial. DeBrosse's friends saying their last good-bye.

"This is a boy who had a good grades, he has never been in trouble with the law one day in his life, he would never harm a fly, "said Carl Soto who is DeBrosse's brother. "This is a boy who had many friends. He was not a dangerous man."

Although the black Kia DeBrosse was driving was a stolen. Authorities say it belongs to Avis car rental at Palm Beach International Airport. A police report says the Kia was taken off the lot on July 23rd.

PBSO says, right now they have no evidence that the 16-year-old took the car from the Avis lot.

Although, according to a police report an Avis employee told authorities the stolen vehicle was occupied by four black males who where teenagers on July 23rd. When authorities arrived..the car and teens where gone.

PBSO says Deputy Bethel fired at Debrosse because he was in fear of his life.

DeBrosse had recently made the varsity football team at Royal Palm Beach High School. Authorities say he had completed PBSO's Eagle Academy--that's a program for at-risk teens.

No word on when Bethel will be back in duty.