Gunman who killed Florida deputy dies from injuries after eviction notice shooting

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The gunman who killed a Florida deputy earlier this week died Saturday from injuries sustained in a shootout, authorities said.

Michael Halberstam, 37, shot two Indian River County deputies and a locksmith Friday while announcing an eviction at a home near Vero Beach where Halberstam’s mother was trying to evict him, authorities said. Officers returned fire and attacked Halberstam multiple times, and Halberstam died from his injuries Saturday afternoon, the county’s sheriff’s department said in an online post.

One of the deputies, Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, died, while another survived a shoulder injury. HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital spokesman Alexander Hagan said Friday that the locksmith was in critical condition after the shooting and underwent surgery. The locksmith could not be identified.

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said Friday that over the past month, the sheriff’s office has received seven calls from the home, and “almost all” of them were from the mother calling about her son. press conference. Still, he said deputies did not expect any problems when they arrived to carry out the evacuation.

“This was a standard call for service,” the sheriff said, adding that there was nothing in Halberstam’s record that would prevent him from owning a gun.

Flowers, who said Sweeting-Mashkow is a 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, said he became emotional as he praised his deputy and described working with him his entire career.

“I can tell you that our team will feel this forever,” Flowers said.

Sweeting-Mashkow was posthumously promoted to sergeant in the sheriff’s office on Saturday.