PALM BAY, Fla. – Two additional people were slain Sunday in Palm Bay after police initially said shootings claimed the lives of two people, including the suspect, and left two officers wounded.
Palm Bay police said Sunday that Brandon Kapas, 24, shot and injured two officers who responded to a domestic violence call around 2 p.m. at a home in the 400 block of Forgal Avenue NE.
The officers, whose names have not been released, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police Chief Mariano Augello said in a news conference on Monday that one of the officers has already been released from the hospital while the other has undergone surgery and is now recovering.
Other officers pursued Kapas, who was shot and killed by police, authorities said.
The police chief also said that an arsenal of weapons was found in the vehicle Kapas had been driving.
“Our officers’ actions yesterday prevented something even more tragic and devastating from happening and potentially what could have been potentially an active shooter-type incident,” Angello said.
Augello confirmed that one of Kapas’ victims was his grandfather. The chief also said that the other victims were discovered when officers discovered the car Kapas had been driving was not registered to him.
Augello did not provide any of the victims’ names at the news conference, only adding that one of them was a retired priest and the third victim was the clergyman’s sister.
“He was a pillar of the community that I’m aware of for many, many years before his retirement,” the chief said.
On Monday the Most Reverend Bishop John Noonan, of the Diocese of Orlando, issued a statement about the deaths of the priest and his sister.
“We mourn with the St. Joseph Catholic community in Palm Bay over the tragic loss of these four lives as we pray for the repose of their souls and extend our prayers to their families. I share with you that Father Robert ‘Bob’ Hoeffner and his sister, Sally, both were tragically murdered (Sunday). Throughout his priesthood, Father Hoeffner served the people of God with compassion and humility. We will miss his grace-filled presence. We know he and his sister are received by the Lord with mercy and love. We also pray for the two police officers who were injured and for our public servants who safeguard our community, and extend our gratitude to them during this difficult time.”
The motive for the shootings is not known.