A Florida sheriff's deputy was released from the hospital on Monday, one month after he was shot in an “ambush” attack that left one deputy dead and himself and another deputy injured, according to reports.
In Eustis, Florida, deputies were responding to a welfare call after Deputy Bradley Michael Link was shot and trapped inside a home when First Deputy Stefano Gargano, 28, and Chief Deputy Harold Howell, 41, were both shot while attempting to rescue the chief deputy.
“They were ambushed,” Lake County Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell said at the time. “We lost one person tonight.”
Link later died from his injuries in hospital. Gargano, who was shot “multiple times” in the abdomen and underarm, was in critical condition after the shooting and immediately underwent surgery.
Florida woman arrested in ambush for killing deputy claims she was working for God
Deputy Stefano Gargano was one of three deputies shot in last month's deadly ambush. He was released from the hospital on Monday. (Lake County Sheriff's Office/FOX 35)
Howell was shot in the shoulder and released early last month.
Gargano underwent at least five surgeries over the last month and is expected to make a full recovery. Fox 35 Reported.
“Gargano is currently recovering at home with her family,” the station said. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Lake County Sheriff's Department.
Julie Sulpizio, 48, is charged with first-degree murder, premeditated murder of a police officer, seven counts of attempted murder, felony assault/strangulation, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer in the shooting.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Master Deputy Bradley Michael Link was killed in the shooting. (Lake County Sheriff's Office)
Officers found the back door kicked in and heard a commotion inside the home after seeing two dead dogs outside. When officers entered the home, they were met with gunfire from Sarpizio's husband, Michael, who had been waiting inside wearing a rifle and a bulletproof vest. Link was shot and trapped inside the home, and later died from his injuries.
Grinnell said the caller told him a woman, later identified as Sulpizio, had been assaulting residents and trespassing on their property. Sulpizio allegedly punched the residents, made religious comments and accused them of being sinners.
In a subsequent interview with investigators, Sulpizio told them she was trying to lure her husband to her home to kill neighbors, Grinnell said.
Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell, 41, was released from the hospital in early August. (Lake County Sheriff's Office)
“It's the fault of our lawmakers that she didn't succeed,” he said.
Mr. Sulpizio and Michael's two daughters, Savannah and Cheyenne, were also inside the home and could be heard yelling, “My king will kill you all! You are children of Lucifer!”
Julie Sulpizio, 48, is charged with first-degree murder, premeditated murder of a police officer, seven counts of attempted murder, felony assault/strangulation, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer in the shooting. (Lake County Sheriff's Office)
The sheriff said body camera footage from Link showed Michael and his daughters discussing suicide before he was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.
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During a search of the home, deputies found numerous guns, ammunition and bottled water, but no phones or televisions, the sheriff said, as well as “anti-government propaganda” and conspiracy media material.
Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report.
