A routine eviction turned deadly Friday morning in Vero Beach when Indian River County Deputy Terri Mashkow, 47, was shot and killed during a call for service at a gated community.
The gunman, later identified as Michael Halberstam, opened fire on deputies during the eviction attempt.
Mashkow, a 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, became only the second deputy in the agency’s 100-year history to die in the line of duty. Two additional deputies were also shot and remain hospitalized. The incident occurred in the 1100 block of Governors Way, roughly 140 miles north of Miami.
According to Sheriff Eric Flowers, deputies were assisting with an eviction requested by the suspect’s family when gunfire suddenly erupted. Flowers emphasized that the suspect had not been on law enforcement’s radar and described the situation as a “standard call for service.”
Florida officials, including Attorney General James Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis, confirmed the shootings and publicly expressed support for the injured officers.
Who Is Michael Halberstam?
The suspect was identified as Michael Halberstam, a man in his late 30s who was shot by deputies during the confrontation. Halberstam underwent surgery and is currently in critical condition, authorities said.
He has a prior criminal record in Virginia, and officials noted there had been at least one previous call for service at the residence where the shooting occurred. No additional details about his background or motive have been released.