Former Colorado doctor in Vero shootout charged with attempted murder

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 72-year-old former Colorado neurosurgeon faces several charges of attempted murder after a Vero Beach shootout that left him and a U.S. Marshal wounded last week. Thomas Steffens, who was wanted on outstanding out-of-state warrants for sexual assault, was released from the hospital over the weekend, according to deputies.

“(Steffens) was released (from the hospital) and immediately taken to jail,” said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.

Steffens, of Grand Junction, was arrested Saturday, March 7, on six counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer by discharging a firearm. He was also charged with resisting an officer with violence.

Steffens was held Tuesday, March 10, at the Indian River County Jail without bond.

Steffens was shot four times as he exchanged gunfire with Indian River and Martin deputies, along with U.S. Marshalls, on Monday, March 2 at 12th Street near Commerce Avenue, sheriff’s officials said. He was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce for treatment.

The U.S. Marshal, who was struck in the leg, was released from Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital later on the night of the shooting. The names of the two Indian River County deputies, two Martin County deputies and U.S. Marshal who fired shots were not released.

On Feb. 25, Grand Junction police issued a warrant for Steffens for charges including two counts of sexual assault, second-degree assault (strangulation) and third-degree assault. An unidentified woman filed a police report in Colorado against Steffens in January.

Investigators believe Steffens drugged the woman at a bar by placing a prescribed drug into her drink. Deputies said Steffens obtained prescribed medications to sedate the woman.

Steffens took the woman to his home and sexually assaulted her, according to officials.

“The next day, she woke up in (Steffens’) house groggy. She saw a light that she thought was a recording device over where she was lying. She was lying unclothed,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek previously said during a news conference in Stuart. “She firmly believed she had been sexually assaulted. Steffens tried to convince her that she wanted to have sexual intercourse with him.”

Steffens dropped the woman back off at the bar. The woman dialed 911.

“Law enforcement shows up and sees she has been battered significantly,” Budensiek said. “She had strangulation marks around her neck.”

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said deputies learned Steffens made threats to kill multiple law enforcement officers. Steffens also made comments that he wasn’t going to be taken alive, according to Flowers.

Officers in Colorado found several weapons inside Steffens’ home. 

“The team investigating this had constant intel that (Steffens) made statements that he was going to go out in a blaze…that he was going to kill three law enforcement officers,” Flowers previously said. “Our team took that very seriously.”

Deputies said Steffens got on a Greyhound bus and traveled from Colorado to Fort Pierce. An Indian River County woman who had been communicating with Steffens picked him up in her silver Hyundai sports utility vehicle.

The woman drove Steffens to the Green Marlin restaurant in Vero Beach where they both had dinner, deputies said. The two then traveled to the Publix Super Market at 12th Street Plaza, where the woman went inside the store while Steffens remained in the front passenger seat.

When the woman returned, she drove to 12th Street near Commerce Avenue, where a train was passing by. Law enforcement officers used their vehicles to block in the SUV.

The woman got out of the vehicle and complied with officers, Flowers said. Deputies and U.S. Marshalls ordered Steffens to get out of the SUV, but he refused to comply.

Steffens fired rounds toward the officers while still in the passenger seat, sheriff’s officials said. Law enforcement officers returned fire, striking Steffens.

The SUV, riddled with bullet holes, was taken to the sheriff’s office compound to be placed in evidence.

Deputies said Steffens was suspended from working as a neurosurgeon in 2025 because of unspecified, inappropriate activities. Steffens had worked for the Grand Junction VA Medical Center.

“He is no longer actively functioning as a doctor,” Budensiek previously said.

Steffens’ arraignment was set for 9 a.m. April 8, court records show.