By Milena Malaver
Miami Herald
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MIAMI — When Devin Jaramillo joined the police force, he did so following in his father’s footsteps — a longtime Miami-Dade County officer who served the community for nearly three decades.
A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he studied criminal justice, Jaramillo began his career with the Coral Gables Police Department, serving nearly four years before joining the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office in 2024.
“He’s what we call a legacy kid, because his father was on the job for so many years,” Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said at a Saturday news conference.
Jaramillo’s life and service were cut short on Friday when he was gunned down at 27 years old while responding to a vehicle crash in Southwest Miami-Dade — leaving his colleagues devastated and the agency he worked for searching for answers. He was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he died.
Video shared with the Miami Herald shows Jaramillo struggling with a man on the ground before he grabbed the deputy’s gun and shot him in the neck.
Jaramillo had responded to what was supposed to be a simple and standard “minor” crash, Cordero-Stutz said. But things escalated when Jaramillo and a man involved in the crash, identified Saturday as Steven David Rustrian, 21, got into a fight that ended with Jaramillo being shot dead. Rustrian would take his own life moments later. Investigators say there is no indication the two had a prior connection.
Cordero-Stutz barely held back tears Friday night as she delivered the grim news of Jaramillo’s death in front of several high-ranking sheriff’s officials, some of whom were crying. “He’s not only a deputy. He’s a son, a brother and a friend,” she said. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life, defending you, and we need to understand as a community that this is just unacceptable.”
Jaramillo grew up surrounded by law enforcement. His father, David Jaramillo, a retired Miami-Dade Police detective, also served as president of the Hispanic Police Officers Association. Every Christmas season, Jaramillo volunteered with HPOA, to assist with “collecting and distributing toys to under privileged children,” according to his LinkedIn page.
His sister, Ashlie Jaramillo Brown, worked as the HPOA office manager.
“Deputy Jaramillo served with pride, compassion, and commitment, qualities that reflect the very best of our profession, “ the association wrote in a Facebook Post . “His loss reminds us how fragile life is and how important it is to cherish every moment with those we love.”
The fallen deputy was born and raised in Miami-Dade, having been born in Baptist Hospital and attended Miami Killian Senior High School.
“He was an athlete, a football player, and he was smart, strong, handsome and young, and he could have done anything with his professional career, but he chose public service,” Cordero-Stutz said.
Jaramillo was honored at a September 2023 Coral Gables Commission meeting for his efforts in identifying and aiding in the arrest of a man accused of stealing Amazon delivery packages. Police Chief Ed Hudak said that Jaramillo had been named Officer of the Month in July 2023. Taking the podium, Jaramillo humbly thanked Hudak and his fellow officers for their support and Mayor Vince Lago praised Jaramillo, saying the city was blessed to have him and assured him that Coral Gables would always stand behind him.
Hudak told the Miami Herald briefly Saturday, Jaramillo was a “great officer, a great person, and we miss him terribly.” Like many, he is letting the investigation take its course as he remembers him fondly.
Jaramillo worked at MDSO’s Kendall station where his peers are destroyed by his death, Cordero-Stutz said. His father shared pictures on Facebook of the family celebrating Jaramillo’s birthday on Aug. 1.
“He was what every parent would want their kid to grow into,” Cordero-Stuz said. The 2019 UCF graduate also interned with the FBI.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Deputy Devin Jaramillo, a UCF alumnus who was tragically killed in the line of duty Friday,” the university’s police department said in a statement. “His courage and commitment to serving others will never be forgotten.”
Retired Miami-Dade Police Sergeant Eduardo J. Prieto described Jaramillo as a “humble and kind person,” having known him for 10 years and worked with his father, who Prieto said “could not have been prouder of anyone in his life,” per the Officer Down Memorial page.
“He grew up to be a very responsible and mature young man,” Prieto wrote. “I am absolutely heart broken over his death.”
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