Eduardo Machado: Killer of Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell sentenced to life in prison

Eduardo Machado: Life sentence for murder of Edgewater officer

The man accused of shooting and killing Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Monday. Eduardo Machado pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, part of a plea agreement to avoid the death penalty.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Eduardo Felipe Labrada Machado pleaded "no contest" to first-degree murder in the shooting death of Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell on Monday, part of a negotiated plea deal with state prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. The judge sentenced Machado to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Machado spoke briefly in Spanish via an interpreter to the judge to state his name, that he understood the terms of the plea agreement, and that he was making the decision with a sound mind. He did not address any of Officer Jewell's family.

Eduardo Machado was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Monday, May 18, in the shooting death of Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell. It was part of a plea agreement to avoid the death penalty.

Officer Jewell's widow, Elizabeth Jewell, his son, niece, and colleagues with the Edgewater Police Department all gave victim impact statements prior to sentencing.

Elizabeth Jewell said he and David were more than husband and wife, they were best friends, partners. "We had a once-in-a-lifetime love," she said.

Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell's widow: 'A once-in-a-lifetime love'

Elizabeth Jewell, the widow of Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell, who was shot and killed in September 2025 inside a Circle K gas station, remembered her husband as her best friend, partner, and security. "We had a once-in-a-lifetime love," she said. Her husband's killer, Eduardo Machado, pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, part of a plea deal to remove the death penalty. A judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

The backstory:

Officer Jewell, who was off-duty at the time, was shot and killed on Sept. 15, 2025, minutes after walking into a Circle K gas station in Ormond-by-the-Sea. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood described the shooting as a "targeted assassination," after the suspect allegedly fired 24 shots at Officer Jewell in less than two minutes.

The shooting was captured on surveillance video, some of which was released to media outlets.

Machado reportedly admitted to shooting and killing Officer Jewell, according to police and court records, and claimed that he had had a bad day that morning. He reportedly told detectives that he had seen Officer Jewell in the Circle K store several times.

Family members told VSO detectives that Machado had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and that he said he heard voices, but were unaware of any homicidal threats or anti-law enforcement ideologies on his part.

Who was Officer Jewell?

Officer David Jewell was a father, husband, and son. He was remembered as someone who dedicated years of his life to public service and as somebody anyone could rely on.

He joined the Edgewater Police Department in 2023. Before that, he worked in the communications unit with the Volusia Sheriff's Office. He also worked for the Lake Helen Police Department.

David Jewell: Slain Edgewater Police Officer remembered

Family, friends, colleagues, and community officials stopped by a memorial outside the Edgewater Police Department for Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell, who was shot and killed in a "targeted assassination" at a Circle K in Ormond-by-the-Sea. Jewell was remembered as someone anyone could rely on. He leaves behind a wife and 17-year-old son.

"David was a guy that you could rely on for anything. You'd never hear a bad thing about him," Acting Edgewater Police Chief Charles Geiger told reporters during a September 2025 news conference.

In 2020, Jewell was awarded "Telecommunicator of the Quarter."

Lawsuit filed

Officer Jewell's family has filed a lawsuit against Circle K stores claiming it was negligent in hiring Machado as an employee.

"Circle K Stores Inc. failed to use reasonable care to select and retain an employee that was competent and fit for the position," the complaint said.

Attorneys for the family said Circle K Stores Inc. was advised of Machado's use of illegal guns and was told by law enforcement that he was a "dangerous individual." The lawsuit said that Circle K ignored warnings from law enforcement about Machado. 

The family is seeking $20 million in damages.