A woman from Florida has been arrested in relation to an ambush attack that resulted in the death of one deputy and injuries to two others, according to officials.
Julie Ann Sulpizio, 48, faces charges including first-degree premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer, seven counts of attempted murder, felony battery/strangulation, and multiple counts of battery, including against law enforcement personnel.
Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell announced during a press briefing that Sulpizio was apprehended on Monday afternoon at a hospital in Tavares, Florida, where she was admitted for treatment following the incident on Friday night.
Sulpizio is currently being held without bond, as stated by the sheriff.
FLORIDA SHOOTING RESULTS IN 1 DEPUTY’S DEATH, 2 DEPUTIES INJURED; 2 INDIVIDUALS ALSO KILLED: ‘THEY WERE AMBUSHED’
Julie Ann Sulpizio, 48, is facing multiple charges, including first-degree premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer.
(Lake County Sheriff’s Office)
Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, 28, lost his life in the shooting described by Grinnell as an “ambush.” Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell, 41, and Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, 28, sustained injuries in the incident.
Deputies initially responded to a disturbance call at a residence around 8 p.m. on Friday before being redirected to another location near Eustis.
Upon arrival, they encountered a forced entry at the back door and heard a commotion inside. Upon entering, deputies came under gunfire. Link was shot and trapped inside the residence, later succumbing to his wounds.
Grinnell elaborated on the sequence of events leading to the Friday shooting, noting that the caller reported a woman, identified as Sulpizio, attacking residents and trespassing. Allegedly, Sulpizio assaulted individuals and made religious assertions, accusing them of being sinners.
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Master Deputy Bradley Link, 28, was killed in the line of duty Friday night during what the Lake County Sheriff described as an “ambush.”
(Lake County Sheriff’s Office via X)
“The caller indicated [Sulpizio] was behaving in a religious manner, accusing them of being sinners, and claiming she knew ‘what they did,'” the sheriff reported. “They recognized Julie Sulpizio as their neighbor, although Julie referred to herself as ‘Helen, under God’s will.’
“In a calm exchange, Julie Sulpizio accused the group present of being involved in pedophilia,” Grinnell continued. “She again insisted she was ‘Helen’ and queried one of her victims, ‘Who was your God?'”
In a subsequent interview, Sulpizio told investigators that she intended to lure her neighbors to her home so her husband could kill them, Grinnell added.
“She was thwarted because of our deputies,” he stated.
Grinnell revealed that Sulpizio told those gathered, “Julie is in heaven.”
She then mentioned needing to “trick Lucy,” referring to a name she associated with Lucifer, according to the sheriff, who further noted that Sulpizio pointed at the deputy and claimed, “You are one of them.”
While deputies sought to arrest Sulpizio, they simultaneously conducted a welfare check at her residence down the street. Upon reaching the home, they discovered two deceased dogs outside and an open window with the screen dislodged. Sensing something was amiss, deputies called for backup.
Link and Howell proceeded through the back entrance and traversed the living room and hallway when Link, with his back turned, was ambushed by Sulpizio’s husband, Michael, who was armed. Link was shot in the back and subsequently fired upon several more times as he attempted to crawl away after exhausting his ammunition.
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano and Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell were injured during a rescue attempt amid the “ambush” on Friday night.
(Lake County Sheriff’s Office via X)
The couple’s daughters, Savannah and Cheyenne, were also present in the home, with one being heard exclaiming, “My King will kill all of you! You are Lucifer’s children!”
Body camera footage from Link showed discussions regarding suicide between Michael and his daughters before all were ultimately found deceased with gunshot wounds to their heads, according to the sheriff.
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During a search of the residence, deputies uncovered a stockpile of firearms, ammunition, and bottled water, but notably no phones or televisions. The sheriff also mentioned that “anti-government propaganda” and materials affiliated with conspiracy theories were located.
Grinnell remarked that Sulpizio seemed to exhibit no remorse and had been closely monitored in the hospital for a few days prior to her arrest.
