LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – One deputy was killed and two others were injured Friday night during an ambush attack in Lake County.
The deadly attack happened in the area of County Road 439, near Brookside Drive, north of State Road 44.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested Julie Jefferson Sulpizio, 48, who faces charges of premeditated first-degree murder on a law enforcement officer, seven counts of attempted murder and four counts of battery.
Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link was killed, Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano was critically injured and Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell was injured in the attack when they were directed to a home by Julie Jefferson Sulpizio. Gargano and Howell are expected to recover, officials said.
Inside the home were Julie Jefferson Sulpizio’s husband and two daughters — Michael Sulpizio, 48; Cheyenne Sulpizio, 23; and Savannah Sulpizio, 22.
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Here is a timeline of Friday night and the days following the attack.
Here is what we know so far:
Friday
- 7:45 p.m. : The sheriff’s office received a 911 call, requesting help in reference to a female in a yard who was assaulting people and trespassing on the caller’s property.
- 8 p.m.: A deputy arrives in the area of County Road 439, near Brookside Drive. They made contact with Julie Sulpizio, who identified herself as “Helen under God’s will,” according to the Lake County sheriff, and accused the neighbors of being involved in pedophilia. The sheriff’s office says Sulpizio told them “they needed to trick the evil come out.” The neighbors say Sulpizio is trying to get them to walk to her house, but they don’t trust her.
- 8:10 p.m.: The deputy handcuffs Sulpizio as another deputy arrives. The two deputies go to Sulpizio’s house to attempt a well-being check on Michael Sulpizio, the husband, and their two adult children. The sheriff says no one responded to announcements made at the door, and one of the deputies saw three people inside run. Two small dogs were also found dead in the front yard.
- Deputies hear some loud banging but can’t identify or locate the sound. One of the deputies finds an open window on the side of the house with the screen kicked out, raising concerns about the people in the house. Additional units are called in to respond.
- Marked deputy cruisers are positioned in front of the home with the blue warning lights activated. Master Deputy Bradley Link makes several announcements identifying themselves and calling out to the residents. Deputies try to come up with a plan to make contact.
- 9:03 p.m.: Master Deputy Link, Master Deputy Harold Howell and two others enter the house while making announcements through a rear door. As Link crosses a hallway, his body-worn camera shows several frames of a man positioned on the arm of a couch with a rifle, waiting to ambush the deputies, Sheriff Peyton Grinnell says. The sheriff’s office has identified the suspect as Michael Sulpizio. Link is struck multiple times.
- 9:05 p.m.: The first call for help from deputies came in. The other deputies are forced to retreat. Link tries to crawl to get cover and exhausts all the rounds in his firearm. He was shot at several more times. Someone inside the house starts shooting at deputies outside, and the deputies return fire.
- 9:24 p.m.: The first deputy, now identified as Howell, was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm. More resources and deputies are requested. Deputies try to negotiate the return of Master Deputy Link. A woman yells from within the house, “My king will kill all of you. You are Lucifer’s children.”
- 9:26 p.m.: Master Deputy Stephen Gargano and others with the SWAT team arrive and organize a plan to rescue Link. Gargano was lead and used a ballistic shield as cover as he moved into the house. Gargano was shot through a wall several times. He was pulled out by the other deputies.
- 9:35 p.m.: Gargano was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital with gunshot wounds to the abdomen and arm.
- 11:02 p.m.: Two gunshots are heard in quick succession, then a third one a little bit later. The SWAT team removes a portion of the wall of the home to get to Master Deputy Link.
- 11:52 p.m.: A representative of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one deputy was in stable condition after being shot in the arm, and another deputy was critical after being shot in the abdomen and the arm.
- 11:55 p.m.: News 6 learns that Master Deputy Link is extracted and taken by medical helicopter, which is rerouted during transport to AdventHealth Waterman Hospital.
Saturday
- 1:30 a.m.: Grinnell spoke to the media and confirmed the third deputy who had been transported to the hospital had died. On Monday, Grinnell said that Cheyenne Sulpizio, 22, and Sylvana Sulpizio, 23, were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Michael Sulpizio was also found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound but had a faint pulse. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
- 2:46 p.m. Saturday: The deputy who died is identified as Bradley Michael Link, 28, who is survived by his wife, Brittany, and his parents, Christi and Daniel.
Sunday
- 1:53 p.m. A GoFundMe was made for Deputy Harold Howell, who was shot in the shoulder during the attack.
Monday
- 1:45 p.m.: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested Julie Sulpizio, 48, on several charges related to the ambush. She had been taken into custody under the Baker Act on Friday night and was held at AdventHealth Waterman Hospital for treatment and evaluation.
- 4 p.m.: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office says Master Deputy Gargano underwent a third surgery for his injuries. He is now in stable condition. Master Deputy Howell underwent a second surgery on his arm and is expected to make a full recovery.
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