Officials say Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, 47, was fatally wounded as a team served an eviction at a Bermuda Club home.
VERO BEACH, Fla. — A 25-year Indian River County Sheriff’s Office veteran was shot and killed Friday morning as deputies served an eviction notice in a gated community north of Vero Beach, authorities said. The accused gunman and two others were also wounded during the exchange of gunfire inside the residence.
Deputies identified the fallen officer as Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, 47. Sheriff Eric Flowers said Sweeting-Mashkow and two colleagues arrived at a home in the 1100 block of Governor’s Way in the Bermuda Club/Somerset Bay area with a locksmith to carry out a court-ordered eviction. The resident’s mother had initiated the eviction. The man inside opened fire as deputies entered, striking Sweeting-Mashkow and wounding Deputy Florentino “Tino” Arizpe in the shoulder and the locksmith. The suspected gunman was also shot. The sheriff said investigators are in the early stages of processing the scene and interviewing witnesses.
The shooting began shortly after deputies reached the door late Friday morning. Flowers, who became visibly emotional while speaking about the deputy’s death, called Sweeting-Mashkow “an amazing deputy” and a steady presence on difficult calls. Neighbors reported hearing rapid pops and then seeing cruisers rush into the Bermuda Club community as deputies and fire rescue units converged. Arizpe, a longtime deputy with more than two decades on the force, was taken to a hospital and was expected to recover from a shoulder wound, the sheriff said. The locksmith who accompanied the team was listed in critical condition following surgery. The suspect, identified by officials as 37-year-old Michael Halberstam, also remained hospitalized in critical condition under law enforcement guard.
Flowers said deputies had been called to the home several times in recent weeks as tensions escalated over the eviction. On Friday, three deputies and the locksmith went to remove the man and secure the door hardware. What followed unfolded inside the home. “I can tell you our team will feel this forever,” Flowers said, adding that Sweeting-Mashkow had logged 25 years and 16 days with the agency. The sheriff said a procession would accompany the deputy’s body to the medical examiner, and grief counselors were assisting staff. City leaders in Vero Beach and surrounding towns posted condolences through the day, and Florida officials offered statements of support as news of the death spread.
Authorities said the eviction was a civil process to serve court paperwork and physically remove an occupant if necessary. The home sits off Governor’s Way near Indian River Shores and Orchid Island, where narrow streets wind through low-rise buildings and townhomes. Residents described Bermuda Club as quiet, with many retirees and seasonal visitors. Deputies do not yet know how many shots were fired or how many firearms were inside the residence. Crime scene technicians worked through the afternoon to collect shell casings, photograph rooms and document bullet paths. Detectives planned to seek a search warrant for electronic devices and to gather prior 911 recordings and incident reports involving the address.
By afternoon, the sheriff’s office confirmed Sweeting-Mashkow died at a local hospital. Arizpe was stable, and the locksmith remained in surgery. Officials said this is only the second line-of-duty death in the sheriff’s office’s 100-year history. The sheriff did not release the locksmith’s name, citing the person’s medical condition and family notifications. The suspect’s mother, who sought the eviction, was not injured. Detectives said they would examine whether prior calls to the home mentioned threats or weapons and whether any protective orders existed related to the address. Officials also planned to review the suspect’s prior criminal record and the status of any firearms purchases.
Sweeting-Mashkow joined the sheriff’s office in the late 1990s and served in patrol and specialty units over her career, according to Flowers. Colleagues described her as calm under pressure and meticulous with evidence paperwork. Arizpe, who started around the same time, has handled training roles and field instruction, deputies said at the scene. Through the day, marked units lined the entrance to the community as residents stopped to leave flowers. A patrol SUV at the sheriff’s headquarters displayed black mourning bands on its mirrors, and a thin black ribbon crossed badges at nearby agencies. “She set the standard for patience and professionalism,” one deputy said outside the hospital.
Investigators expected to obtain formal arrest warrants for Halberstam as soon as doctors determine he can be moved from the hospital to the county jail. Charges are likely to include first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and multiple counts of attempted murder, officials said. Once Halberstam is booked, he is expected to make an initial court appearance, where a judge will address probable cause and pretrial detention. The state attorney’s office said prosecutors were working with detectives on evidence collection and would decide on additional charges after reviewing the case file. The sheriff’s office said autopsy arrangements were underway and that the agency would release funeral details when finalized.
Florida agencies typically request outside review after shootings that involve deputies. The sheriff’s office said it would release body camera timelines and relevant reports when allowed under state law. Detectives will map the interior of the home, pull ballistic trajectories and compare gunshot residue tests to witness accounts. Officials plan to examine whether the suspect lawfully possessed the firearm used and to trace the weapon’s purchase history. The department also will conduct an internal after-action review to evaluate tactics used during civil process calls and whether any policy updates are warranted, according to Flowers.
By late afternoon, a law enforcement escort transported Sweeting-Mashkow’s body to the medical examiner as residents lined parts of the route in silence. Outside the neighborhood gate, a small memorial of candles and lilies grew near a sheriff’s cruiser. “We honor Deputy Sweeting-Mashkow’s ultimate sacrifice,” Vero Beach leaders said in a statement, while neighboring agencies sent patrol units to cover calls so colleagues could gather at the hospital. The sheriff said flags at the agency would fly at half-staff as the department prepares to stand watch at the funeral and support the deputy’s family in the days ahead.
As of Friday evening, the sheriff’s office said the scene remained secured and detectives would continue processing the residence overnight. The next public update is expected after investigators brief prosecutors on evidence collected and doctors provide a medical status change for the wounded. Funeral and memorial details for Sweeting-Mashkow are pending.
Author note: Last updated November 21, 2025.