A sheriff's deputy was killed and two others were wounded in an ambush shooting at a residence in Eustis, Florida, on Friday evening, according to Lake County Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell. The tragic incident, which resulted in the deaths of two suspects and serious injuries to a third, has shocked the local community and prompted a thorough investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The incident began around 8 p.m. when deputies responded to a disturbance report at a home on Brookside Drive. Sheriff Grinnell detailed the sequence of events at a press conference early Saturday morning. "They were ambushed," Grinnell said, describing the dangerous situation the deputies encountered upon arrival.
Upon reaching the residence, deputies heard a commotion inside and decided to enter the home. The first deputy who entered was immediately shot and became trapped inside. "We lost one tonight," Grinnell stated somberly, confirming that the deputy succumbed to his injuries inside the house.
As more deputies arrived on the scene, they formed a team to rescue the trapped officer. During this rescue attempt, a second deputy was shot in the shoulder and is now in stable condition. A third deputy sustained critical injuries after being struck in the armpit, groin, and stomach area and is currently undergoing surgery.
Inside the home, two individuals were found dead. It remains unclear whether they were killed by the deputies during the shootout or as part of a murder-suicide scenario. Another person was transported to a hospital for treatment. Sheriff Grinnell did not provide details on the identities of the suspects or the injured deputies.
The initial call to the police described a disturbance at the residence. Upon arriving, deputies noticed a door that appeared to have been forcibly kicked in. "When the deputies entered the home, there was a lot of gunfire," Grinnell said, highlighting the immediate danger faced by the officers.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office has not made any arrests related to the incident, and the investigation remains active. The chaotic scene unfolded quickly, and the SWAT team was called in to secure the area and attempt to rescue the trapped deputy. "It was a chaotic scene from the start until the end," Grinnell noted.
Grinnell described the harrowing situation faced by his officers. "Just horrific when you have one of your own inside of a home and you can't get to him," he said. The SWAT team's intervention was crucial in recovering the injured deputy from the dangerous environment.
There was no prior indication of violent crime at the residence, making the deadly ambush even more shocking to the community and law enforcement. "They were ambushed," Grinnell reiterated, emphasizing the unexpected and perilous nature of the incident.
