Seven law enforcement agents in ceremonial uniforms carried the American flag-draped gurney of an Indian River County sheriff’s deputy from where she was fatally shot near Wabasso to an ambulance that carried her to the medical examiner’s office in Fort Pierce.
Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, 47, a 25-year veteran, died at the scene of an eviction gone wrong in the Bermuda Club, a sleepy Orchid Island retiree community south of Disney’s Vero Beach resort on A1A.
Officials from the Florida Highway Patrol, Sheriff’s Office, Vero Beach Police Department and others stood saluting her casket as it passed. About two dozen law enforcement vehicles lead by 32 police motorcycles formed a procession to escort the ambulance carrying Sweeting-Mashkow’s body.
The procession started at 5:50 p.m. and went from County Road 510 to County Road 512 to Interstate 95 to Okeechobee Road to the 19th District Medical Examiner’s Office at 2500 S. 35th St., where cranes draped a large American flag over the street.
Onlookers gathered on the side of the road and the sun began to set on the procession as it made its poignant march.
Sally Rogers, 52, and her husband also hung a large American flag from the Oslo Road overpass in Vero Beach.
“They have a hard job to do, honestly, and their families have a hard task as well,” Rogers said. “Every time they leave, just like Terri’s, not knowing if she’s going to come home at the end of the day.”
Sweeting-Mashkow was the first deputy killed in the line of duty in Indian River County since 1986, and the second in the last century.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’ve worked my entire career with Terri,” Sheriff Eric Flowers said. “Having to call her mom today, having to let her husband know, absolutely the worst part of being a law enforcement leader.”
“She died a hero,” said her father-in-law, George Mashkow of Palm Bay. He said some of the family are on a cruise and are arranging to return to the area.
Deputy killed and a deputy, locksmith and evictee shot
Another deputy and a locksmith also were shot, and deputies fired multiple shots at the evictee.
Deputy Tino Arizpe, who was shot in the shoulder, was in stable condition late Friday, but locksmith David Long and evictee Michael Halbertstam, 37, were in critical condition at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce early Nov. 22.
Halberstam died from his injuries at 3:41 p.m. Nov. 22, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Long died from his injuries Nov. 23 at 76 years old, the Sheriff’s Office stated.
“His loss, following Sergeant Mashkow’s, is a reminder of the sacrifices made, not just by our sworn deputies, but by the everyday heroes who assist us,” Flowers wrote in a statement. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
At the scene, but uninjured, were Sgt. Gary Farless and Halbertstam’s mother, who was evicting her son.
Arizpe and Farless fired at Halberstam, and the investigation will determine whether Mashkow did too, and how many bullets hit him. The sheriff assumed Halberstam did not shoot himself.
“I can tell you that our deputies did fire at him, and he has been struck multiple times,” Flowers said. “I would assume that it’s our deputies that have made those shots, but I can’t say for sure. The investigation will do that.”
Eviction turns to shooting north of Vero Beach
Deputies were serving the eviction notice at 8:42 a.m. Things got heated when deputies entered the home.
Halbertstam retrieved a weapon and started “indiscriminately firing at our deputies” at 8:57 a.m., the sheriff said. Arizpe retreated into the garage.
“This is not someone that was on our radar,” Flowers said. Halbertstam’s mother had made “almost all” of the seven 911 calls to their home in November, but “nothing before that,” Flowers said.
Halbertstam did not have a criminal record in Indian River County, but he did in Virginia, including a 2006 narcotics charge and a 2015 misdemeanor assault charge.
Authorities found negative comments about UPS and the Sheriff’s Office on social media, Flowers said. Halbertstam recently was fired from UPS, and he was disparaging the company, the sheriff said.
Governor, senator and House reps post condolensces
Gov. Ron DeSantis was speaking at a news conference in Crystal River when he learned of the shooting.
Attorney General James Uthmeier posted his condolences on X.
“We are aware of an officer involved shooting in Indian River County,” the post said. “We are praying for the brave officers who put their lives on the line to protect Florida and our families.”
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott posted: “Tragic news coming out of Indian River County … Please join Ann and me in keeping the entire Indian River County Sheriff’s Office in your prayers.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fort Pierce, posted: “My prayers are with the family and the Sheriff’s Office of the Indian River County deputy who was tragically killed in the line of duty this morning. May this hero rest in peace.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, posted: “My wife, Stephanie, and I are heartbroken for the family of the deputy killed and the officers wounded in Indian River County today. We are praying for them, and for the entire law enforcement community, and urge all residents to rally behind those who serve and protect us,”
The Sheriff’s Office posted a eulogy for Sweeting-Mashkow on its Facebook account.
“Her loss is felt deeply by every member of our agency, as well as by the community she served with pride,” the post read.
Impact on the neighborhood
Bermuda Club Somerset Bay “is high-end stuff … not a low-rent district,” Vero Beach Mayor Cotugno said.
The average median per capita income is $129,000, and the average age is 69 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Residents who spoke with TCPalm after the shooting expressed shock that something so violent could happen there.
“There’s never anything that goes on in there,” said Noah Lavender, who does property maintenance at a nearby home and used to take care of properties inside Bermuda Club. “It’s like every other neighborhood on beachside.”
Taylor Clark, 30, stopped her bicycle as a host of law enforcement vehicles and law enforcement personnel were on the opposite side of the road. Clark said she lives nearby.
“There’s no reason for it,” she said. “I think it’s horrible.”
Residents were escorted into the development by law enforcement officers. At least 10 emergency vehicles, including the SWAT team and a helicopter, rushed to the scene on Old Dixie Highway northbound toward County Road 510 before 9 a.m. Friday. TCPalm saw two air ambulances at the Indian River County Fairgrounds.
(This story was updated with new information.)
Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1345, or follow him on X @JackLem
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Deputy killed near Vero Beach. Here’s the whole story
Reporting by Jack Lemnus, Will Greenlee, Kaila Jones, Colleen Wixon and Wicker Perlis, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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