INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Michael Halberstam blasted more than two dozen rounds at deputies and a locksmith during an attempt to evict him from a Bermuda Club home last month, Sheriff Eric Flowers said during a Friday news conference. The deadly, ambush-style shooting that claimed the life of a beloved, veteran deputy and a local locksmith, will go to a grand jury for review.
Halberstam also died after he was struck multiple times while exchanging gunfire with deputies during the deadly Nov. 21 incident.
“Our folks will have to testify as to what happened on that day,” Flowers said inside of the sheriff’s office auditorium. “We have a parallel investigation with the state attorney’s office.”
Grand juries independently review critical incidents – such as deputy-involved shootings or in-custody deaths – and issues recommendations to the state attorney’s office over whether serious criminal charges should be filed. Though Halberstam is deceased, a grand jury will still convene to decide whether the law enforcement force was lawful and justified.
“Our team did a great job in this case. They’re heroes. They did everything by policy…by the book,” Flowers said. “They were wearing their vests. The fault lies with the shooter who ambushed our deputies. Let’s not lose focus of that.”
The sheriff’s forensics team was still processing thousands of pieces of evidence from the scene.
The Nov. 21 shooting killed sheriff’s Sgt. Terri Sweeting-Mashkow, and locksmith David Long.
Sweeting-Mashkow, 47, a wife and mother, worked at the sheriff’s office for 25 years. Long, a U.S. Army veteran who was posthumously honored as a sheriff’s deputy by Flowers, was a respected longtime Vero Beach business owner.
Deputy Tino Arizpe was shot in the shoulder and released from HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital two days later. Deputy Gary Farless, who was standing outside, was not hurt.
All three deputies exchanged gunfire with Halberstam. The sheriff said Sweeting-Mashkow died fighting.
“Terri put bullets in that bad guy. Tino put bullets in that bad guy. Farless put bullets in that bad guy,” Flowers said. “With precision, training, and with all the things they have been taught to do over their combined 85-plus years of experience, they did the honorable thing. They protected the community, the neighbors in that area and anybody else this maniac might’ve killed.”
Flowers said Sweeting-Mashkow, Arizpe, Farless and Long are heroes.
The sheriff said deputies responded to the home six times.
On Nov. 5, deputies were called for a disturbance. Halberstam’s mother explained she wanted her son removed from her home, and deputies explained to her the process of how to get an eviction, Flowers said.
“There were two calls (on Nov. 5) because of a shift change issue (at the sheriff’s office),” Flowers said.
On Nov. 7, deputies were called to do a standby as the mother removed her belongings from the house. The mother was not staying at the residence, Flowers said.
“Our job there was to keep the peace. There were no issues,” the sheriff said.
Halberstam’s mother began the eviction process on Nov. 10. Flowers said the sheriff’s civil team went to the home the same day to post an eviction notice.
The mother asked deputies to do a standby at the home again on Nov. 13. On Nov. 20, the day before the shooting, Sweeting-Mashkow went to the residence and posted the final notice that stated Halberstam would be evicted the next day.
The final call for service was made the morning of Nov. 21, when Sweeting-Mashkow, Arizpe, and Farless, who were accompanied by Long, arrived at the home to evict Halberstam. Halberstam’s mother told deputies that he was “not aggressive,” Flowers said.
Halberstam’s mother and grandfather were standing outside of the home when gunfire rang out.
“The team of folks involved in our civil unit have done over 500 evictions in the last two years. Not a single one of them involved use of force or had any issues. They were standard calls for service,” Flowers said. “This team is well-skilled. They know exactly how to do their jobs.”
Flowers clarified that an eviction is a civil process, not a criminal process.
“This is not something we deploy our SWAT team for,” Flowers said. “Our team doesn’t kick down doors for civil process. Our team does their job. They do it well and honorably, just like they did on Nov. 21.”
The sheriff also said Long, the locksmith, was not hired by the sheriff’s office, but rather hired by Halberstam’s mother.
Flowers also clarified a statement he made at the original news conference where he said Halberstam was not on the sheriff’s office’ radar.
The sheriff said Halberstam had never been arrested in Indian River County. There were also no records of Halberstam being taken to a mental health institution for being a threat to himself or others, according to Flowers. Flowers said the sheriff’s office had not previously filed a risk protection order against Halberstam.
“None of those things occurred in this case,” Flowers said. “We received calls about (Halberstam) before the incident. None of those calls rose to the level of an arrest, Baker Act or risk protection order.”
Risk protection orders are red flag laws that allow law enforcement officers to take away weapons from people who pose a significant danger to themselves or others by having firearms or ammunition in their custody. The laws also prohibit those targeted or named in risk protection orders from purchasing weapons or ammunition.
Flowers said deputies have conducted 490 Baker Acts this year. A Baker Act is when a person is temporarily and involuntarily taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Deputies have done 52 risk protection orders in 2025 throughout Indian River County. The sheriff said deputies made thousands of arrests this year.
“I promise this community that if somebody came forward with information that would’ve been at the level to make an arrest, to conduct a Baker Act or to get a risk protection order, our team would’ve done that,” Flowers said.
The sheriff thanked the community and said their outreach has helped deputies to heal. Flowers urged residents to continue to reach out to show support.
“Please continue in the days and weeks to come. It’s going to get harder and harder for us,” Flowers said. “Every day that goes by is another day that we lost our Terri.”
Flowers thanked Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier and other state officials.
The sheriff also thanked Corporate Air Inc., which provided the venue space for Sweeting-Mashow’s funeral held on Dec. 2. Flowers thanked Breeze Airways for helping transport Sweeting-Mashkow’s family – who were on a cruise ship landing back in New York – back to Florida in a timely manner.
Flowers said the ongoing deadly shooting investigation remains active.
“We are still in the throes of this,” Flowers said. “As we get more information and details, I will come back to you.”
Photos by Joshua Kodis
