Terri Mashkow, a 45-year-old deputy with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office died during an eviction in Vero Beach on Friday morning. Photo by IRSO/Facebook

Nov. 21 (UPI) — A 45-year-old Florida deputy died and three other people were shot, including another Indian River County deputy, during an eviction in Vero Beach on Friday morning, only the second line-of-duty death in 100 years of the agency.

Indian River County Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, 45, a 25-year-old veteran of the agency, died during gunfire at a residence before 9 a.m., Sheriff Eric Flower said during a news conference.

Vero Beach is about 80 miles north of West Palm Beach.

Three deputies were serving an eviction notice on Michael Halberstam, 37, in the upscale Bermuda Club. Halberstam retrieved a weapon and fired at the deputies, Flowers said.

He is listed in critical condition at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce

Deputy Florentino Arizpe, who has worked 25 years for the agency, was shot in the shoulder and taken to the hospital, where he is in stable condition. Their sergeant, Gary Carlos, was not injured.

An unidentified locksmith called to assist with the eviction was listed in critical condition and underwent surgery at the hospital.

“Our team will feel this forever,” Flowers said. “Terri was an amazing deputy. She had a beautiful heart, and she will be missed.

“I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’ve worked my entire career with Terri.”

Flowers said he worked his entire career with Mashkow, who started out as a dispatcher, worked in road patrol for 20 years and in 2023 moved to the legal process civil unit.

Mashkow, who was married with children, was honored in the office’s 2023 quarterly report for helping a local family during the Christmas holiday, Spectrum News reported.

Her American flag-covered coffin was escorted from the crime scene as personnel lined the road. Her body was then placed in a fire rescue ambulance, followed by numerous vehicles to the medical examiner’s office in Fort Pierce.

Indian River Fire Rescue suspended an American flag on an Interstate 95 overpass.

“Her loss is felt deeply by every member of our agency, as well as by the community she served with pride. … We also extend our gratitude to the first responders, medical staff, and community partners who assisted during today’s tragic events,” the sheriff’s office said in a tribute posted to Facebook.

“As we grieve, we remain dedicated in our commitment to honor Deputy Mashkow’s legacy by continuing the work she believed in so strongly – serving with integrity, courage, and compassion.”

Patricia Mashkow, the deputy’s mother-in-law, told WPTV-TV: “We love Terri very much. She’s like a daughter to us. I can’t say enough about her. She died a hero today. This is just unbelievable. This is just a nightmare.

Patricia Mashkow, who was on a cruise during the shooting, said she “was the most caring, the most giving person. I couldn’t ask for anything more from a daughter-in-law. She was just everything. I can’t even comprehend this. … It’s so unbelievable.”

Flowers described the eviction as a “standard call for service,” and Halberstam “was not someone that was on our radar; this was not someone that we were actively engaged with.”

Flowers said Halberstam’s mother had called for assistance seven times and in the past month asked to have her evicted.

“Our deputies and a locksmith were on scene to carry out the court-ordered eviction and remove him from the home,” Flowers said. “While they were in the entryway – having just made entry – Mr. Halberstam retrieved a weapon and began indiscriminately firing at our deputies.”

Halberstam has a prior criminal record in Virginia, including a 2006 narcotics charge and 2015 misdemeanor assault, Flowers said.

The sheriff said their real-time crime center identified social media posts made by Halberstam with negative comments about local law enforcement.

The Bermuda Club comprises “93 West Indies style single-family homes,” which are a short walk from the beach and the Atlantic Ocean, according to its website.

“It’s very, very sad, especially with Thanksgiving week,” Robert Carter, who lives in a nearby community, told WPTV-TV. “The poor lady, Officer Mashkow, how devastating it must be for her and her family at this time, and everyone else who’s been caught up in the events. So hopefully everyone can make a fast recovery soon.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis, during an event in western Florida, said the “Florida Department of Law Enforcement is engaged, working with the sheriff and the local community. We will hope for the best results out of that.”

Attorney General James Uthmeier said he learned about the shooting as he began a news conference in Jacksonville.

“We are praying for the brave officers who put their lives on the line to protect Florida and our families,” Uthmeiser posted on X.

Several other agencies responded, including helicopters from Martin County and St. Lucie County. Deputies from Brevard County, which is north of Indian River County, were also on the scene.

The first county sheriff’s deputy killed on duty was Cpl. Richard R. Raczkoski, who was shot several times on Sept. 23, 1986, after responding to a 911 hang up from a convenience store, Vero News reported. Vietnam veteran William Reaves was convicted and sentenced to death row.