Florida Deputy Killed in Eviction Shooting

A Florida sheriff's deputy was killed and two others wounded Friday morning when gunfire erupted during an eviction attempt at a gated community on Orchid Island near Vero Beach, authorities said. The incident, which unfolded in the Bermuda Club neighborhood of Indian River County, left 47-year-old Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow dead and marked the second line-of-duty fatality for the sheriff's office in its 100-year history.

Three deputies and a locksmith arrived at the home just before 9 a.m. to carry out a court-ordered eviction requested by the resident, who sought to remove her 37-year-old son, Michael Halberstam, from the property. As the group entered the entryway, Halberstam retrieved a firearm and opened fire without warning, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said at a news conference. Sweeting-Mashkow, a 25-year veteran of the department, was fatally shot during the exchange. Deputy Florentino "Tino" Arizpe was struck in the shoulder but escaped to the garage and is expected to recover. Sergeant Gary Farless, unharmed, returned fire and struck Halberstam multiple times. The locksmith was critically wounded and underwent surgery at a local hospital.