EUSTIS, FL – Tragedy struck Lake County on Friday night when a sheriff’s deputy was killed and two others were wounded in an ambush-style attack, authorities said.
Lake County Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell addressed the media early Saturday, revealing that deputies were called to a disturbance at a home on Brookside Drive around 8 p.m. “They were ambushed,” Grinnell said. “We lost one tonight.”
Master Deputy Bradley Michael Link, 28, was the first to enter the residence and was fatally shot. Link, an Army Reserves veteran, leaves behind his wife, Brittany.
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, 28, sustained gunshot wounds to his armpit and stomach. He underwent surgery overnight and was scheduled for a second operation Saturday afternoon. His condition is listed as critical. Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell, 41, was shot in the shoulder and is in stable condition. Both deputies were injured during their attempt to rescue Link.
The injured deputies are receiving treatment at HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office honored Link in a Facebook post, stating, “Brad, as our Sheriff’s Office family knew him, touched the lives of all who were blessed enough to work with him; his contributions and the impact of this loss will not soon be forgotten.”
Inside the home, two individuals were found dead. The circumstances of their deaths are unclear, and it is not known if they were killed by the deputies or if it was a murder-suicide. Another person was taken to the hospital. No suspects have been apprehended, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.