On the evening of August 2, 2024, an ambush shooting in Eustis, Florida resulted in the death of a Lake County deputy and injuries to two others. The officers had responded to a disturbance call and were met with gunfire upon entering a home with a forcibly opened door at around 8 p.m.
The deceased deputy was identified as Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, aged 28. Link had been serving the Lake County Sheriff’s Office since October 2019 after his stint in the Army Reserves and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Peyton Grinnell remembered him as a treasured team member who rapidly became a part of their family, emphasizing that his contributions will not be forgotten.
Two other deputies were injured in the ambush. Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, 28, received multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen, armpit, and groin. Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell, 41, was shot in the shoulder and is in stable condition. The deputies had answered a disturbance call on Brookside Drive, which led them to a house where they were met with intense gunfire.
SWAT teams were called to the scene and faced considerable resistance from inside the house. Grinnell noted that the team had to extensively damage the house to rescue the trapped deputy. The house was filled with firearms, ammunition, and anti-government materials, indicative of the suspects’ planning and intent.
The suspects in the shooting were identified as Michael Sulpizio, 49, and his two adopted daughters, Savannah Sulpizio, 23, and Cheyenne Sulpizio, 22. All three suspects were found dead inside the house following the standoff. Another woman, Julia Jefferson, co-owner of the house, was taken into custody for a psychological evaluation. Neighbors reported that she initiated the disturbance, with local resident Austin Humphrey recounting, “She was talking about how she was hell and God’s wife, and we were all demons, and our dogs were hell hounds and all of this, and it was just a crazy and insane moment.”
The incident is currently under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This marks the first deputy death in the community since February 2005. Investigators are combing the scene and questioning witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the deadly ambush.
GoFundMe pages were created to help with Master Deputy Link’s funeral expenses and the medical bills for Deputy Gargano and his family. Link is survived by his wife, Brittany, and his parents, Christi and Daniel. His dedication to duty and service to the community have been widely acknowledged by those who knew him.
