Arial Beebe Use of Deadly Force Review
Following an extensive review, our office has concluded that the victim acted in lawful self-defense and was justified in his use of deadly force against 28-year-old Arial Beebe on September 30, 2020. Our review determined that the victim fatally shot Arial Beebe inside of his home as she rushed at him with a knife. In reaching this conclusion, our office conducted an exhaustive review of all available evidence and applicable legal standards. These steps included but were not limited to:
- responding to the scene following the shooting
- reviewing interviews of witnesses
- examining physical evidence
- reviewing video evidence
- reviewing photographic evidence
- reviewing 911 calls and relevant audio
- analyzing autopsy results
- applying the applicable laws
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation, and a representative from the State Attorney’s Office responded to the scene. Investigators found Arial Beebe and the victim were in the final stages of a failed personal relationship when this fatal incident took place. Earlier in the afternoon of this incident, the couple had dinner and alcoholic drinks at a Plant City restaurant.
According to the unrefuted account of the victim, shortly after the couple returned to his mobile home, Beebe armed herself with a knife while becoming emotional and belligerent about text messages that the victim had sent to his estranged wife. The victim told Beebe to leave his residence, but she refused. The victim retreated to his bedroom, locked the door, and threatened to call law enforcement. Beebe used the knife to unlock the door. She entered the bedroom and charged at the victim with the knife. Using a pistol he had retrieved from his closet, the victim fired two shots, missing with one and fatally shooting Beebe in the chest with the other. He called 911 immediately. Upon their arrival at the scene, investigators found the victim attempting to resuscitate Beebe. A knife was found on the floor near Beebe’s body.
A photo posted on social media that afternoon with the added text of “Day Drinking? DAY DRINKING!!!” provides evidence for the victim’s timeline. Cell phone video taken by the victim during the initial part of the confrontation shows Beebe armed with a knife while admitting to being drunk and refusing to leave the mobile home.
When contacted by detectives, Beebe’s mother explained that her daughter’s behavior on the day of the shooting is consistent with her actions in the past, saying that Beebe would “get angry” when she did not get her way. Beebe’s mother said conversations with her daughter would go “sideways” and Beebe had started physical altercations in a previous relationship.
The victim stated he kept a CZ P-10 handgun in the pocket of a jacket in his closet, and that he retrieved it to defend himself. The 9mm casings at the scene and gunshot wound are all consistent with this weapon.
The Hillsborough Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Beebe. It found one gunshot wound, to the upper left chest, and that the round had traveled at a downward angle, moving diagonally right-to-left. This is consistent with the victim’s account of the events. The manner of death was a gunshot to the chest, with a laceration of the right lung.
The name of the victim is being withheld due to Marsy’s Law, as he is a victim of an aggravated assault by Arial Beebe.
After our thorough analysis, we have determined that the facts and evidence of this incident prove that the victim reasonably believed he was in fear of imminent death or great bodily harm when he used deadly force. These findings satisfy Florida Statute 776.012. Accordingly, under Florida law, there is no legal basis for criminal charges against the victim.
An initial release of materials related to this case is available at this link. These items illustrate the crime scene and key details of the case. Further documents related to the case, including additional photos, reports, and interview transcripts, are available to any member of the public subject to Florida’s Public Records Law; find details on making a request on the State Attorney’s Office Public Records page.