The Briefing:
- Indian River County (FL) deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow killed; Deputy Florentino Arizpe wounded.
- Shooting occurred during an eviction service in Vero Beach’s Bermuda Club community.
- Locksmith David Long, 76, also died; suspect Michael Halberstam, 37, died after being shot.
- Sweeting-Mashkow, a 25-year veteran, was posthumously promoted to sergeant.
- FDLE assisting; review of body-camera and radio traffic ongoing.
VERO BEACH, Fla. — An Indian River County sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed and a second deputy wounded Friday during an attempted eviction at a Vero Beach residence, authorities said. The suspect and a civilian locksmith who was assisting deputies also died in the aftermath, according to officials and local reports. AP News+2wplg+2
Deputies arrived at the Bermuda Club community on A1A late Friday morning to serve an eviction at a home where a woman was removing her adult son, investigators said. As deputies entered with a locksmith, the man opened fire. Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, a 25-year veteran of the agency, was mortally wounded. A second deputy, later identified as Deputy Florentino Arizpe, was shot in the shoulder and has since been released from the hospital, officials said. AP News+1
The locksmith, David Long, 76, was critically injured at the scene and later died, the sheriff’s office confirmed. The gunman, Michael Halberstam, 37, was shot by returning fire and died at a hospital the following day. AP News+1
Sheriff Eric Flowers said the residence had generated multiple calls for service in recent weeks, most from the suspect’s mother, but investigators had not flagged the eviction as likely to turn violent. Authorities said there was no prohibitor in the suspect’s record that would have prevented firearm possession. AP News
Sweeting-Mashkow, remembered by colleagues as “an amazing deputy,” was posthumously promoted to sergeant, officials said. A roadside and agency memorial has grown outside the sheriff’s office headquarters as plans for services are finalized. AP News+1
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting the investigation, and the sheriff’s office asked the public to respect the families’ privacy. Additional details, including body-camera footage and radio traffic, are being reviewed as part of the probe, officials said. WKMG
This is a developing story.
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Sources (latest & authoritative)
- Associated Press updates: suspect death; prior calls to residence; posthumous promotion; status of wounded. AP News+2AP News+2
- WPLG-Local10/CBS Miami/WPTV initial/local reporting (name release, scene details, timeline).