VERO BEACH, Fla. (Civitas) — A gunman who killed Florida deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow last week succumbed to his injuries on Saturday after a violent confrontation with law enforcement. The incident began Friday when Indian River County deputies attempted to serve an eviction notice at a residence where the suspect’s mother was trying to evict him.
Michael Halberstam, 37, opened fire on the deputies and a locksmith, seriously injuring the locksmith and killing Deputy Sweeting-Mashkow. While Halberstam was heavily armed, officers returned fire, striking him multiple times before he died Saturday afternoon.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office had previously received multiple calls from the residence, predominantly from Halberstam’s mother, indicating there had been ongoing issues. Sheriff Eric Flowers noted that despite these calls, deputies expected no trouble as they arrived to perform a routine eviction.
“This was a standard call for service,” Sheriff Flowers stated. He also emphasized that Halberstam's record showed nothing that would have prevented him from possessing a firearm.
Sweeting-Mashkow was a 25-year veteran of the sheriff's office; her death has left a profound impact on the team. Following the incident, she was posthumously promoted to sergeant. Sheriff Flowers expressed his heartfelt grief and admiration for her service during an emotionally charged address.
“I can tell you that our team will feel this forever,” he remarked, highlighting the deep loss within the community.
