In brief
A confrontation during an eviction notice in Vero Beach turned deadly when 37-year-old Michael Halberstam opened fire, killing Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow and injuring another deputy and a locksmith. Halberstam later succumbed to his injuries. The sheriff's department had received multiple calls from the residence before the incident.
VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A gunman who killed a Florida deputy last week died on Saturday from injuries received in the confrontation, authorities say.
Michael Halberstam, 37, shot two Indian River County deputies and a locksmith on Friday when they were serving an eviction notice at a home near Vero Beach where Halberstam's mother was trying to evict him, officials said. Officers returned fire, striking Halberstam multiple times, and he succumbed to his injuries Saturday afternoon, the county's sheriff's department said in a post online.
One of the deputies, Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, was killed, while another is recovering from a shoulder injury. The locksmith is in critical condition after the shooting and underwent surgery, Alexander Hagan, a spokesman for HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, said Friday. The locksmith's identity has not been released.
In the month leading up to the incident, the sheriff's office had received seven calls from the home, with almost all calls stemming from the mother regarding her son, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers stated Friday at a news conference. Despite this history, Sheriff Flowers said deputies were not expecting any trouble upon their arrival to carry out the eviction.
This was a standard call for service, the sheriff said, adding there was nothing in Halberstam's record that would have precluded him from having a weapon.
Sweeting-Mashkow, a 25-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was described as a valued member of the team. Sheriff Flowers expressed deep sorrow, stating, I can tell you that our team will feel this forever. Following the incident, Sweeting-Mashkow was posthumously promoted to sergeant in the sheriff’s office.
