The night before Steven David Rustrian killed a Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy, he sat on the beach trying to make sense of a life that felt like it was falling apart, a close friend told the Miami Herald.
At just 21, Rustrian — a former soldier — was overwhelmed by personal struggles, said his friend Ivan Romero. He spoke about confronting his demons and wanting to return to church.
Their next conversation was very different.
Rustrian had been in a crash and felt a panic attack coming on. He sent Romero his location, but his friend was too far away to help. Soon after, Romero saw the news: Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Deputy Devin Jaramillo, 27, had been killed while responding to a minor crash in Kendall. Romero suspected immediately that Rustrian was involved, though he couldn’t understand why.
“He was kind,” Romero said. “But he was struggling.”
Two young men are now dead, families are grieving, and the community is searching for answers about what happened during the confrontation that led Rustrian to shoot the deputy.
Struggling with mental illness
Romero met Rustrian earlier this year and described him as kind but very private. Over time, he learned that Rustrian suffered from depression and was taking antidepressants. Rustrian had confided that he struggled with suicidal thoughts, and Romero didn’t believe he was receiving professional therapy.
Rustrian served as an Army infantryman from January 2023 to May 2024. He left the service as a private first class, though the Army didn’t release the reason for his departure.
His personal life had unraveled in recent months. He’d lost his job as a paralegal at a Miami law firm and was actively job hunting, with an interview scheduled in the coming days.
“He was starting to feel desperate about his finances and being able to make it in Miami,” Romero said.
Rustrian lived in a run-down efficiency near Allapattah and was also financially responsible for a home he purchased in Jamestown, New York, in 2024. Friends also described increasingly dangerous behavior, such as speeding. He had totaled a car earlier in the year and had been arrested in New York in May for reckless driving.
“I think his judgment was affected by the medication he was taking,” Romero said.
‘Extremely heartbroken’
Rustrian’s sister, who asked not to be named, said her brother was alone in Florida, drawn there because of his love for the ocean. She said he struggled with isolation and homesickness.
The youngest of five, Rustrian was born in New York. His sister described him as sweet and gentle, and said she is holding onto those memories.
“An hour before he died, he texted me he loved me and missed me,” she said. They never got the chance to speak again.
His father also expressed sorrow for both families involved.
“I’m so sorry for the deputy’s family,” he said.
The night before the shooting
On Nov. 6, Rustrian sat with Romero at Miami Beach, talking about life and faith. He seemed calmer and clearer. Romero felt hopeful.
But around 3:50 p.m. the next day, Rustrian was involved in a crash, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He and the other driver moved to a nearby parking lot. During the drive, Rustrian called Romero, saying he felt a panic attack coming on. Romero, an hour away, couldn’t reach him.
Romero knew Rustrian sometimes reacted intensely to physical touch and feared how he might respond under stress.
The deadly confrontation
At the parking lot, Rustrian switched seats with his passenger. Deputy Jaramillo arrived a short time later. Surveillance video shows Rustrian initially complying, but becoming more animated as the conversation with the deputy continued.
Jaramillo grabbed Rustrian’s arm. Rustrian pulled away. The deputy lunged and pushed him against the car. In the struggle, Jaramillo struck Rustrian twice. They fell to the ground, wrestling, and Rustrian managed to seize the deputy’s gun, shooting him several times.
Rustrian then returned to his car and fatally shot himself.
Jaramillo was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he died. A GoFundMe has been created to support his family.
Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz remembered Jaramillo as an athlete, a dedicated public servant, and a positive presence in the department.
“He could have done anything with his career, but he chose to serve this community,” she said. “He gave the ultimate price.”
Romero believes Rustrian wanted to turn his life around but was overwhelmed by his battles.
“He was living life like he had nothing to lose,” he said. “And I recognized that as something dangerous.”
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