Man to spend life in prison for murder of Tallahassee Police Officer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - A man accused of shooting three family members and then killing a Tallahassee Police Officer who was trying to catch him, will spend the rest of his life in prison for it.

Friday afternoon, Tyrone Cleveland entered a no contest plea to murder, attempted murder and other charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the June 2022 murder of Tallahassee Police Officer Christopher Fariello. He could have faced the death penalty if convicted at trial.

The Tallahassee Police Chief and more than a dozen of Fariello’s colleagues were sitting in the courtroom during the plea hearing alongside a large portrait of Fariello.

Fariello’s parents - Rick and Theresa - were in the courtroom for the emotional hearing. They did not address the judge but the State Attorney - on their behalf - asked that everyone take a good look at Fariello’s picture.

“The last 19 months have been an emotional roller coaster for us. I hope that we can find relief and peace that justice is being served today for Christopher,” Rick and Theresa Fariello said in a statement to WCTV.

Cleveland was wanted for shooting three members of his family at his home earlier the same night.

Officer Fariello later spotted Cleveland’s car and was pursuing it on Capital Circle NW when court records say, Cleveland made an abrupt U-turn and rammed into Fariello’s patrol car.

Fariello was 33 years old.

Several of Fariello’s cousins offered scathing victim impact statements before Cleveland was sentenced.

“I hope you spend your days haunted by Christopher’s face,” one cousin told Cleveland.

“You are a selfish disgrace of a human,” another said.

“You have robbed us of our future with him,” another cousin said. “You will forever be a nobody and my cousin will be a hero.”

Cleveland offered a brief statement too, through his defense attorney. She turned to family and friends in the gallery and said, “I’m so sorry to the Fariello family. I never meant to hurt your son. I also apologize to my family. I love you.”

Cleveland’s wife and son also spoke during the hearing. “I’m not going to say he was not wrong. We were all victims. Just as well as you lost your loved one. We lost him too,” his wife of 15 years, Kelsey Cleveland, said. “I just hope and pray that you will find it in your heart to forgive him.”

Fariello’s family has established a scholarship in his name at Tallahassee Community College.

“Without that, there is somebody out there who will never become a police officer without some aid,” his parents said in a statement to WCTV.

It’s awarded to a student entering the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy at TCC’s Florida Public Safety Institute.

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