Vero Beach, Florida — The gunman who killed a Florida lawmaker earlier this week died Saturday from injuries sustained in the standoff, authorities said.
Michael Halberstam, 37, shot two Indian River County deputies and a locksmith on Friday as they served 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 several times and he died from his injuries Saturday afternoon, the county police department said in an online post.
One deputy, Terry Sweeting-Mashko, was killed, while another is recovering from a shoulder injury. The locksmith was in critical condition after the shooting and underwent surgery, Alexander Hagan, a spokesman for HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, said Friday. The locksmith was not identified.
Over the past month, the Sheriff’s Office has received seven calls from the home, “almost all” of which were from the mother talking about her son, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said Friday. press conference. He added that deputies did not expect any problem when they arrived to carry out the evacuation.
“This was a normal call to duty,” the sheriff said, adding that there was nothing on Halberstam’s record that prevented him from possessing a gun.
Sweeting Mashko was a 25-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, and his emotion grew as he praised the deputy and described working with him throughout his career, Flowers said.
“I can tell you our team will feel this forever,” Flowers said.
Sweeting-Mashkow was posthumously promoted to sergeant with the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday.