(PatriotNews.net) – A tragic event unfolded in Lake County, Florida, on Friday night when three deputies were ambushed while responding to a call. One deputy lost his life, and two others were seriously injured.
The incident began around 8 p.m. when deputies were called to a home on Brookside Drive in Eustis, Florida. According to Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell, the deputies were responding to a disturbance. But when they entered the house, they were met with gunfire.
The first deputy to enter was Master Deputy Bradley Michael Link, 28 years old. Link was shot and trapped inside the house. Despite the efforts to save him, Link tragically died from his injuries. Link had served in the Army Reserves and leaves behind a wife, Brittany.
Two other deputies were also shot during the incident. Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, 28, was shot multiple times, including in the armpit and stomach. He underwent surgery overnight and was in critical condition, with a second surgery planned for later that day.
Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell, 41, was the third deputy shot. He was hit in the shoulder and is currently in stable condition. Howell has served in Lake County since 2005. Both Gargano and Howell were wounded as they tried to rescue Link from inside the home.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office shared the news of Link’s death in a statement, calling him a hero who died serving his community and fellow officers. The statement also mentioned how deeply Link’s death will affect those who knew him.
Inside the home, two people were found dead. However, it is unclear if they were killed by the deputies or if it was a murder-suicide. Another person was taken to the hospital, but the details of their condition have not been released.
As of now, no suspects have been arrested. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the situation to understand exactly what happened that night.
