Juror recommend death for man convicted of killing deputy

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) – Jurors have recommended the death penalty for a man convicted of killing a central Florida deputy.

A St. Lucie County jury voted 9-3 on Friday in favor of executing 27-year-old Eriese Alphonso Tisdale. The same panel convicted Tisdale last week of first-degree murder and other charges. A judge will make the final decision in Tisdale’s fate. No date was immediately set for the sentencing.

Officials say Sgt. Gary Morales pulled Tisdale over south of Fort Pierce in February 2013. As Morales was calling in his location and the car’s license plate, authorities say Tisdale got out of his vehicle and began shooting at Morales, striking him in the head, neck and arm.

Morales was later found dead inside his patrol car.