Deputy who shot Needham man sworn in about a year ago

By Lisa Kocian, Globe Staff

The Florida sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a Needham man this week is 26 years old and graduated from the police academy 15 months ago, according to his personnel records.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy Justin Clayton began as a community police officer, and then graduated from the police academy in December 2007and went to work for the city of Lake Worth police department, according to sheriff's office spokeswoman Teri Barbera. The police department merged with the sheriff's office in October.

He has no disciplinary record since joining the sheriff's office, the spokeswoman said.

Clayton is on paid administrative leave, which is customary, after shooting Nicholas Burdett of Needham in Miami Beach Monday. Authorities have said the deputy was off-duty and walking with his girlfriend on the beach when Burdett tried to rob him at knifepoint.

Barbera said Palm Beach deputies are allowed to carry concealed weapons while off duty.

Burdett’s girlfriend Linna Hor, reached by phone in Lowell yesterday, said the two had just arrived in Miami Beach around noon Monday to celebrate Burdett's 25th birthday. He left their hotel room to look for lost sunglasses, she told the Boston Globe, and never returned.