End of Watch: One deputy shot dead, two more injured in fatal Florida ambush

(End of Watch, Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, Image credit: Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy)

Tragic news came out of Florida this week when we learned that one Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot dead and two more deputies were injured, one severely, when responding to a call regarding a disturbance at a residence on Brookside Drive in the rural town of Eustis on Friday evening.  Fox 35 in Orlando quoted Lake County Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell as saying, “They were ambushed.  We lost one tonight.”

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that Lake County Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell, on behalf of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, announces the passing of one of our own. Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link died in the line of duty overnight heroically serving his community and fellow deputies after responding to a disturbance call in the northeast portion of our county in rural Eustis, during which two other deputies were also shot.  ~  Sheriff Grinnell, Facebook

After receiving the call, deputies arrived on the scene at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday and discovered that the back door of the residence had been kicked in and they could hear an ongoing disturbance inside the house.  According to a separate report from Fox 35, “Upon entering the home, deputies were met with heavy gunfire.  One deputy was struck and trapped inside the home.”

When law enforcement officials stormed the house and returned fire, two of the shooting suspects inside were killed and a third was injured.  That third suspect was transported to the hospital. The Sheriff said at a press conference that upon a search of the residence, multiple firearms ranging from long guns to handguns were recovered. Click Orlando shared the identities of the three shooters inside the home as: 49-year-old Michael Sulpizio, 23-year-old Savannah Sulpizio and 22-year-old Cheyenne Sulpizio.

A Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said that, initially, the deputies believed there was a burglary in progress at that residence on Brookside Drive in Eustis and ordered those inside to exit the building.  No-one came out, and when deputies went in, they were met with “heavy, heavy gunfire.” 

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Per Click Orlando:

Another deputy identified as 28-year-old Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano was shot in the abdomen area several times and under the arm. Sheriff’s office officials said Gargano underwent surgery overnight and had a second surgery on Saturday afternoon. A third surgery is scheduled for Monday, officials said. His condition was last listed as critical.

The third deputy was struck in the shoulder and is stable. He was identified as 41-year-old Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell who was hired at the sheriff’s office in 2005. Howell has served as a K9 deputy since 2011.

See Sheriff Grinnell’s press conference regarding the shootings, below.

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(Cover photo of Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, Image credit: Lake County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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