Posted on 11/22/2025 5:09:29 AM PST by Libloather
A Florida sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Friday morning, another deputy was wounded and a locksmith was left in critical condition while helping a mother evict her son from a gated home in a coastal community north of West Palm Beach, authorities said.
Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, a 25-year veteran of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, was gunned down inside a residence at the Bermuda Club on Orchid Island near Vero Beach.
She was one of three deputies who arrived at the home with a locksmith just before 9 a.m. to remove 37-year-old Michael Halberstam under a court order initiated by his mother, who waited outside.
Investigators said the team stepped into the entryway when Halberstam allegedly unleashed gunfire without warning, fatally hitting Sweeting-Mashkow.
Deputy Florentino “Tino” Arizpe was hit in the shoulder and escaped into the garage. The locksmith was critically wounded.
Sgt. Gary Carlos returned fire and hit Halberstam multiple times. The gunman was rushed to a Fort Pierce hospital in critical condition.
Sweeting-Mashkow, 47, had served 25 years and 16 days with the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Eric Flowers said she was killed on what was considered a routine civil-service call.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Why do they always rush him (the perp)?
Why do they always rush him (the perp)?
Because police procedure and legal precedent require it?
As to the assertion that they “always rush him”, it is not correct. I have seen many cases where police “slow walked” medical assistance to a suspect involved in a shooting.
Orchid Island is a very nice part of the world.
Unfortunately, malefactors like the son wind up making the police act more like SWAT for what should be a mundane police action. He is not going to like his new home. He better be tied to it for a VERY long time, unless he is invited to meet his Maker by a jury of his peers first.
That’s what they did when the bank robber got shot in California. They let him bleed out.
That was one of the cases I was thinking about.
I live in Vero Beach and this is the biggest thing that’s happened here in years. The local news stories say that the locksmith is in critical condition, as well as another deputy who are in the trauma hospital, Lawnwood Fort Pierce, along with the shooter.
The mother had to know he had a gun don’t you think?
Most likely he was the last one to enter and the others in front of him caught the first rounds which gave him time to respond.
I wonder if the Mother knew he had weapons in the house. Not sure the correct procedure, but seems like they police should enter before the locksmith, and get the person evicted out of the house where he can be closely observed. Evicting a person can easily turn volatile...
There really needs to be intervention for these sluggards that won’t move out.
Florida…no social workers available.
When you walk up to the results of a shooting with two or more down, it is your choice whom you render aid to first.
It seems to be quite a common theme the last few years.
I was recently in Ann Arbor, MI for business.
An older couple was sitting very near me at another breakfast table. She was very loudly complaining about their adult 40 year old child living in the basement, not working, not contributing. Her husband just silently listened with a blank stare.
Not sure Michigan laws, but at some point the person often has “Squatters Rights” and is very difficult to get them out. Plus, when it is your child, it is a very difficult decision emotionally. Parents did not set boundaries and responsibilities from the beginning it seems.
Needing a locksmith and deputies should have warned the heck out of everybody.
Hope the perp makes it and lives with it a long time with a new mama home.
I remember that. Mama was just awailing about her baby.
Can anyone find a pic of the perp?
DOMESTIC CALLS ARE ALWAYS THE MOST DANGEROUS
EVERY SINGLE STATE NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY REBUILD THEIR LAWS REGARDING “SQUATTERS RIGHTS”.
“Not sure the correct procedure, but seems like they police should enter before the locksmith, and get the person evicted out of the house where he can be closely observed. “
They can’t enter till the locksmith unlocks the door.
The locksmith does not enter the house.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.