Florida Police Officer Dead, 2 Others Injured After Attempt to Evict Son from a Mother’s Home at Her Request

A Florida sheriff’s deputy was killed and two others were hurt Friday after officers went to a Vero Beach home to carry out an eviction.

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said at a press conference that Deputy Terri Mashkow, 47, died while responding to what he described as a routine eviction call in Bermuda Club, a gated community in Vero Beach, on Nov. 21.

Mashkow arrived with two fellow deputies and a locksmith after a resident requested help evicting her son, who authorities identified as Michael Halberstam. Flowers said the group had just entered the home when Halberstam retrieved a gun and started shooting.

“While they were in the entryway, having just made entry into the home, Mr. Halberstam retrieved a weapon and he began indiscriminately firing on our deputies on scene,” Flowers told reporters.

Flowers said Mashkow was fatally wounded inside the residence. One deputy was shot in the shoulder, and another was not hit but returned fire. The locksmith was also injured and taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he underwent surgery, Flowers said.

Halberstam was shot during the incident and was transported to the hospital in critical condition, according to the sheriff. Flowers noted that Halberstam had previous charges, including a 2006 narcotics case and a 2015 misdemeanor out of Virginia.

Investigators also found what Flowers called “strange posts” on Halberstam’s social media ahead of the shooting, including negative comments about the sheriff’s office. Flowers added that deputies had received six calls involving Halberstam’s mother in the past month.

Mashkow had served with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years. Flowers called her a dedicated deputy who “gave her life to this community,” and said she would be remembered for her compassion. “She will be missed,” he said, visibly emotional.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the shooting in a separate briefing, saying state law enforcement is assisting local investigators. “There is a lot going on. Just know Florida Department of Law Enforcement is engaged, working with the sheriff and the local community. We will hope for the best results of that,” he said, according to ABC News.

The FBI said in a post on X that Mashkow is survived by her husband and daughter. The agency said it is offering support to her family and colleagues.