Prosecutors in Fla. to pursue death penalty against Brandon Bradley for deadly shooting of deputy Barbara Pill

(CBS/AP) MELBOURNE, Fla. - Prosecutors say they intend to pursue the death penalty for the suspected shooter in the slaying of central Florida deputy Barbara Pill.

The suspects in the shooting, 19-year-old Andria Kerchner and 22-year-old Brandon Bradley, face multiple charges including first-degree murder. They appeared in court on Wednesday.

"My office is working with investigators to vigorously pursue justice for this crime. Based upon the information already received, I will be instructing the assigned prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against [Bradley]," said State Attorney Norman Wolfinger in a statement, reports local station WDBO.

Kerchner's mother Pamela says she's devastated by the slaying.

Pamela Kerchner told Florida Today her family knew Pill, who was fatally shot Tuesday morning. She told the newspaper her daughter has had minor run-ins with the law but she's "not a monster."

Andria Kerchner and Bradley were arrested shortly after the shooting.

Pill, a Brevard County Sheriff's deputy and a 52-year-old grandmother whose sons also found careers in law enforcement, was killed after she stopped a car which had been implicated in the theft of furniture at an Econolodge motel, reports CBS Miami.

Authorities say the suspects were fleeing a motel burglary when Pill stopped them. The deputy was shot when she ordered them out of the vehicle.

CBS affiliate WKMG reports that Bradley is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, robbery with a deadly weapon and failure to appear warrants for possession of a firearm by a felon, sale of cocaine, carrying a concealed firearm and resisting arrest. Bradley also was arrested on violation of probation warrants for robbery, possession of cocaine, burglary and grand theft.

Meanwhile, Kerchner is accused of robbery with a deadly weapon, first-degree felony murder and a warrant for the sale of a controlled substance.

Friends say 52-year-old Pill had a passion for helping others. They say that quality led her to a law enforcement career.