A Florida sheriff's deputy was released from the hospital Monday, a month after he was shot in an “ambush” attack that killed one deputy and left him and another deputy wounded, according to reports.
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, 28, and Deputy Harold Howell, 41, were shot as they attempted to rescue Deputy Bradley Michael Link after he was shot and trapped inside a home in Eustis, Florida, while the deputies were responding to a welfare check request.
“They were ambushed,” Lake County Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell said at the time. “We lost one tonight.”
Link later died in hospital from his injuries. Gargano, who was shot “numerously” in the stomach and armpit, was in critical condition after the shooting and immediately underwent surgery.
FLORIDA WOMAN ARRESTED FOR AMBUSH MURDER FOR KILLING DEPUTY AGENT, CLAIMED SHE WORKED FOR GOD
First Class Stefano Gargano was one of three officers shot in a deadly ambush last month. He was released from the hospital on Monday. (Lake County Sheriff's Office/FOX 35)
Howell was shot in the shoulder and was released early last month.
Gargano has undergone at least five surgeries in the past month and is expected to make a full recovery, FOX 35 reported.
According to the station, Gargano is now at home with his family recovering. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Lake County Sheriff's Department.
Julie Sulpizio, 48, has been charged with first-degree murder, premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer, seven counts of attempted murder, assault/aggravated strangulation, two counts of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer in the shooting.
She could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
Deputy Chief Bradley Michael Link was killed in the shooting. (Lake County Sheriff's Office)
Officers found the back door open and heard a commotion inside the home after seeing two dead dogs outside. When they entered the home, officers were met with gunfire by Sulpizio's husband, Michael, who was waiting for them inside with a rifle and a bulletproof vest. Link was shot and trapped inside the home and later succumbed to his injuries.
Grinnell said a caller said a woman, later identified as Sulpizio, was attacking people and trespassing on their properties. Sulpizio allegedly beat residents and made religious comments, accusing them of being sinners.
In a later interview with investigators, Sulpizio said she was trying to lure these neighbors to her home, so her husband could kill them, Grinnell said.
Deputy Harold Howell, 41, was released from the hospital in early August. (Lake County Sheriff's Office)
“It was not successful because of our deputies,” he said.
Sulpizio and Michael's two daughters, Savannah and Cheyenne, were also inside the house, and one was heard shouting, “My King will kill you all! You are the children of Lucifer!”
Julie Sulpizio, 48, has been charged with first-degree murder, premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer, seven counts of attempted murder, assault/aggravated strangulation, two counts of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer in the shooting. (Lake County Sheriff's Office)
Body camera footage from Link showed Michael and his daughters talking about suicide before they were all found dead with gunshot wounds to the head, the sheriff said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The sheriff said deputies, during a search of the home, found a cache of guns, ammunition and bottled water, but no phones or televisions. The sheriff said “anti-government propaganda” and media material related to conspiracy theories was also discovered.
Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report.
