A Florida sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Friday morning, another deputy was wounded and a locksmith was left in critical condition while helping a mother evict her son from a gated home in a coastal community north of West Palm Beach, authorities said.
Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, a 25-year veteran of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, was gunned down inside a residence at the Bermuda Club on Orchid Island near Vero Beach.
She was one of three deputies who arrived at the home with a locksmith just before 9 a.m. to remove 37-year-old Michael Halberstam under a court order initiated by his mother, who waited outside.
Investigators said the team stepped into the entryway when Halberstam allegedly unleashed gunfire without warning, fatally hitting Sweeting-Mashkow.
Deputy Florentino “Tino” Arizpe was hit in the shoulder and escaped into the garage. The locksmith was critically wounded.
Sgt. Gary Carlos returned fire and hit Halberstam multiple times. The gunman was rushed to a Fort Pierce hospital in critical condition.
Sweeting-Mashkow, 47, had served 25 years and 16 days with the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Eric Flowers said she was killed on what was considered a routine civil-service call.
He called her “an amazing deputy” who “had a beautiful heart, and she will be missed.”
“I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’ve worked my entire career with Terri,” the sheriff said, adding that “our team will feel this forever.”
Authorities said deputies had responded to the home seven times in November, nearly all coming as a result of calls from Halberstam’s mother, who repeatedly voiced concerns about his behavior.
Records show Halberstam previously faced a 2006 narcotics charge and a 2015 misdemeanor assault case in Virginia, though nothing legally barred him from possessing a firearm.
Investigators also uncovered troubling posts on his Facebook page, including negative comments about the sheriff’s office.
As the investigation ramped up on Orchid Island — a barrier island community known for its wealthy neighborhoods and beach access — Sweeting-Mashkow’s relatives struggled to absorb the loss.
Her mother-in-law, Patricia Mashkow, who was on a cruise, said: “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.”
She added: “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.”
A solemn procession began around 5 p.m. Deputies escorted a fire-rescue ambulance carrying her flag-draped coffin from the scene.
Law enforcement lined the road as the motorcade traveled to the medical examiner’s office in Fort Pierce.
A massive American flag, suspended from an Interstate 95 overpass, waved overhead as the procession passed beneath.
That evening, the sheriff’s office posted a tribute which read: “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, who was killed in the line of duty on November 21st, 2025 while faithfully serving our community.”
“Her loss is felt deeply by every member of our agency, as well as by the community she served with pride.”
The agency thanked emergency workers and said it would honor her memory by “serving with integrity, courage, and compassion.”
State leaders issued swift statements. Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis said in a statement: “Governor Ron DeSantis and I are praying for the officers and their families in Indian River County.”
Attorney General James Uthmeier wrote: “We are praying for the brave officers who put their lives on the line to protect Florida and our families.”
Halberstam’s family, through a Vero Beach law firm, said they were “heartbroken by the tragic events” and offered their “deepest condolences” and “sincere wishes” to all those affected.
“We can’t adequately express our profound sorrow for the pain and devastation this incident has caused,” they said, adding that “privacy would be appreciated during this time of healing and grieving.”
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