Incident
Sergeant Brian LaVigne was killed when his patrol car was intentionally rammed by another vehicle on West Lumsden Road, near South King's Avenue, in Brandon.
Deputies had responded to an apartment complex nearby after a man started throwing furniture and clothing off his balcony. A short time later, the man disrobed and started throwing food at neighbors. The man attacked responding deputies, striking one of them multiple times in the head. Attempts to stop the attack with electric control weapons failed. The subject broke free, got into a car, and drove through a closed gate.
The man intentionally drove across multiple lanes of traffic and struck Sergeant LaVigne's patrol car on the driver's door at a high rate of speed. Deputies were unable to free Sergeant LaVigne, and he had to be extricated by rescue units. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The subject was arrested following the collision. In 2025, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years.
Sergeant LaVigne had served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for thirty years and was killed the day before his last scheduled shift before retirement. He previously served with the Largo Police Department prior to joining the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife and two children. His daughter became a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-AF4C58F0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
33 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant LaVigne gave the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office 33 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant LaVigne.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Brian Roy LaVigne is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian Roy LaVigne's cause is highlighted.
How Brian Roy LaVigne Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brian Roy LaVigne is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.












