The gunshots erupted so suddenly that, for a moment, no one in the hallway understood what was happening. Seconds earlier, the atmosphere inside 1137 Governor’s Way had been tense but controlled, the kind of quiet, procedural tension that comes with any court-ordered eviction. Deputies from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office stood by as a locksmith inserted his tools into the lock,
carrying out the legal directive initiated by the resident’s own mother. It was supposed to be a straightforward civil matter—unpleasant, perhaps, but routine.Inside the condominium, however, 37-year-old **Michael Halberstam** was waiting. The deputies had no indication that he was armed, nor any warning of what he was prepared to do.
The moment the door opened, Halberstam appeared and produced a firearm, unleashing a burst of gunfire that shattered the stillness and left no time for negotiation or de-escalation.Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow**, 47, was closest to the doorway. A 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, she had spent years as a dispatcher before moving into patrol, eventually joining the civil process unit in 2023.
Colleagues describe her as steady, compassionate, and deeply committed to helping others navigate some of the most stressful moments of their lives. She never drew her service weapon. The shots struck her before she could react, and she died where she stood.Another deputy, **Florentino “Tino” Arizpe**, was hit in the shoulder as he attempted to pull back from the line of fire.
Arizpe, wounded but conscious, was rushed to the hospital. Officials later confirmed his injuries were non-life-threatening, and he is expected to make a full physical recovery.The tragic ambush transformed a standard civil eviction into a deadly encounter, leaving a department in mourning and raising urgent questions about how quickly routine duties can turn violently unpredictable.
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