Florida police report deputy killed and two officers injured in surprise attack

A tragic incident unfolded in Eustis, Florida, as a sheriff’s deputy lost his life and two others were injured in what authorities described as an ambush shooting at a residence. The violent encounter occurred on Friday night when three deputies responded to a call for a disturbance. Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell provided details of the event during a press conference following the incident.

Upon arriving at the scene, two deputies discovered a door that had been forcibly entered a few houses down from where the disturbance was reported. Upon entering the residence, gunfire erupted, leaving one deputy shot and trapped inside while the other deputy sought safety. Additional law enforcement personnel arrived to form a team to rescue the injured deputy, but they were met with a barrage of gunfire, resulting in another deputy being wounded.

Tragically, the deputy who was initially shot and trapped did not survive, while the second deputy sustained a shoulder injury and was reported to be in stable condition. A third deputy faced multiple gunshot wounds in the armpit, groin, and stomach, and was undergoing surgery. Sheriff Grinnell commended the SWAT team for their efforts in reentering the residence to extract the trapped deputy and confront the assailants.

When the SWAT team entered the house, two suspects were discovered dead, while a third suspect was apprehended and taken to a hospital for treatment. Despite there being no prior history of violent incidents at the residence, the sudden and unexpected attack led law enforcement officials to classify the events as an ambush. Sheriff Grinnell expressed his dismay at the situation, emphasizing the chaos that unfolded during the operation to rescue their fellow deputy.