LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol has confirmed the identity of the man killed while walking across State Road 44 Sunday morning.
Robert Hawkins Jr., 32, was walking north across the westbound lane of State Road 44 near Lakeview Drive when he was struck by a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan being driven by a 43-year-old DeLand woman, around 3:45 a.m.; Hawkins was not in a marked crosswalk, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said.
Hawkins was pronounced deceased on the scene; the DeLand woman was not injured.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—A Eustis man was struck and killed early Sunday morning while walking across State Road 44, outside of Eustis, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Shortly after 3:45 a.m., the 32-year-old man was walking north across the westbound lane of State Road 44 near Lakeview Drive when he was struck by a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan being driven by a 43-year-old DeLand woman.
The pedestrian was pronounced deceased on the scene; he was not in a marked crosswalk. The DeLand woman was not injured, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said.
TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link is scheduled to be honored Wednesday night by a young man who will run his 1,550th mile in support of fallen first responders.
Zechariah Cartledge founded Running 4 Heroes Inc., a non-profit organization in 2019, to raise funds for fallen first responders. Cartledge is scheduled to run the mile at 8 p.m. Wednesday, at Tavares Middle School, 13032 Lane Park Cutoff Road, Tavares. Attendees are asked to arrive between 7 and 7:30 p.m.
ALTOONA, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation after a man was found deceased with his vehicle Wednesday in the area of Kismet Road in Altoona.
The man, whose name was not released, is an older man, and a detective investigating the case believes the heat may have contributed to his death while he was stranded with his car that was stuck in in the woods. There are no signs of foul play, LCSO Cpl. Chanel Martin said.
SORRENTO, Fla.—An Orlando man was killed Monday night after losing control of his SUV, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Shortly before 10 p.m., the 47-year-old man was southbound on County Road 46A, approaching State Road 46 when he ran off the road. He overcorrected, lost control of the SUV, rotated counterclockwise, ran off the road again, overturned several times, and was ejected from the SUV, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said.
He was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, where he was pronounced deceased. The crash remains under investigation.
CLERMONT, Fla.— “Let us remember Bradley as a true hero for his courageous actions.”
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stephanie Earley spoke about her dear friend and field training officer Master Deputy Bradley Link at his Celebration of Life and Service Saturday. Thousands of people were in attendance.
Earley spoke about the relationship she and her husband had with Link, and his wife, Brittany. The times they spent together playing Catch Phrase and, “our beach days together were the best,” she said.
PHOTO: Real Life Christian Church
Deputy Matthew Layman, who was Link’s zone partner when he was in the road patrol unit, spoke about Link’s incredible smile, his commitment to serve, and said “his first concern was always for others.”
Another zone partner and close friend, Deputy Preston Leonard also shared his feelings about Link also known as “Baby Boy.” He described Link as warm, inviting and charismatic, and “truly fearless in all his endeavors.” He spoke about Link “looking at the moon and stars on his telescope, his love for fishing and how Link felt he had not worked a day since his transfer to the Agricultural and Marine Unit because he “gets to do what he loves.”
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Preston Leonard speaks about his friend and colleague, fallen Master Deputy Bradley Link. PHOTO: Real Life Christian Church
Earley, Layman and Leonard each spoke about Link’s love for his wife, Brittany.
The couple met in high school, Brittany said, “Brad was an exceptional human being. Truly a living, breathing angel.” He was, “slow, to speak, slow to anger, and quick to understand.” He loved lights of all kinds, she said, from lights on a patrol car to Christmas lights, and “his heartbeat was fueled by humble servitude.”
She had a message for those who want to honor Link.
“Love each other without restraint, be kind to all, and have faith that God is good. Have Bradley’s heart for the needy, the broken, the rejects and the lonely.”
Brittany closed with, “I truly believe he is still taking care of me from Heaven, she said, “by sending me all of you.”
Sheriff Peyton Grinnell spoke about Link’s bravery and how his actions saved the lives of his fellow deputies. He was on his way home from a security detail when he heard a call out for extra deputies regarding a fight in progress outside of Eustis. He texted his wife, letting her know he was going to be a little late.
Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell speaks at fallen Master Deputy Bradley Link’s Celebration of Life and Service Saturday. PHOTO: Real Life Christian Church
After arriving at the scene, deputies believed a home invasion may have occurred at a nearby residence. Link and other deputies entered the home and Link, in the lead position, was met with gunfire from a high-powered rifle and collapsed, suffering multiple gunshot wounds. In a “hail of gunfire,” and crawling for safety, he fired upon the suspects, until he emptied his weapon, allowing other deputies to retreat to safety and then immediately try to rescue Link. One of those deputies, K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell was shot in the immediate rescue attempt. He survived his wound.
In a heartbreaking revelation, Grinnell said Brittany, unaware of this tragic event, called Link’s cell phone to check on him because it was getting late. One of the assailants answered his phone, and told her husband was dead.
“That will forever be the worst phone call of Brittany’s life.”
Grinnell said Link “faced danger without hesitation,” and “selflessly placed the safety of others above his own.” Grinnell awarded Link with both the Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart posthumously. He is survived by his wife, Brittany, his parents, Daniel and Christi, his brother, John and his sister, Brittany.
TAVARES, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office released a video of K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell leaving the hospital, along with his first statement to the public Wednesday.
“Hello all— it is bittersweet to finally be home after this event. I would like to thank my Lake County Sheriff’s Office family for their unending love and support,” Howell said.
He also had a message for the community that has rallied behind him, Deputy Stefano Gargano and the family of fallen Master Deputy Bradley Link.
“To everyone in Lake County, as well as state and even nationwide—I have seen and heard your prayers, love, and support. I want to thank each and every one of you. Please continue to support the family and friends of Deputies Link and Gargano through this most difficult time. Stay safe and take care of each other. God bless you all.”
Howell was shot in the wrist in an ambush on deputies Friday night and is expected to make a full recovery, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said earlier this week. Gargano has underwent four surgeries and remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Howell and Master Deputy Bradley Link were ambushed Friday night in what Sheriff Peyton Grinnell called a “horrific nightmare,” at a press conference Monday. Gargano was shot multiple times, as he and a team entered the home of Michael, Julie, Cheyenne and Savannah Sulpizio, to rescue Link after he was shot multiple times and trapped in the home.
Link was later extracted from the home by LCSO’s SWAT Team and succumbed to his injuries.
Michael, Cheyenne and Savannah Sulpizio each committed suicide and were found in the home by the SWAT Team after they tore the home on Brookside Drive to pieces in an effort to extract Link. Julie Sulpizio, who was detained on a Baker Act and removed from the scene before the ambush, was arrested Monday on multiple charges including principal to premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer.
Link’s unit, Agriculture and Marine, arrested her with Link’s handcuffs and transported her to the Lake County Jail in Link’s patrol truck.
Julie Sulpizio was booked into the LCJ on no bond and transferred Tuesday to an undisclosed detention center in the area, Herrell said. “That’s not uncommon in high publicity cases such as this one,” he told Inside Lake.
TAVARES, Fla.—Julie Sulpizio, the woman who set Friday night’s tragic events in motion, has been arrested and is a facing a litany of charges.
Sulpizio is facing charges of principal to premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer, seven counts of attempted murder, battery on law enforcement officer, battery by strangulation, and two counts of battery.
She was arrested Monday afternoon at AdventHealth Waterman and transported to the Lake County Jail in Master Deputy Bradley Link’s patrol truck and cuffed with his handcuffs, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said at a press conference following her arrest.
Link’s unit, Agriculture and Marine, made the arrest after detectives worked around the clock to develop probable cause for her arrest.
Master Deputy Bradley Link’s handcuffs were used to arrest Julie Sulpizio Monday. She was transported to the Lake County Jail in Link’s patrol truck. PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Peyton Grinnell released details unknown to the public until Monday and choked back tears several times during a press conference as he explained how the events unfolded and called his deputies’ actions heroic.
Sulpizio attacked several of her neighbors early Friday evening, prompting them to call LCSO for help around 7:45 p.m. The complainant said a female was trespassing on his property, attacking them, “acting religious,” accusing them of being sinners and said she “knows what they did.” The complainant identified her as Sulpizio, his neighbor, but she was stated she was “Helen under God’s will.”
An LCSO corporal arrived at 38226 Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis just before 8 p.m. and Sulpizio approached him with her hands behind her back. He ordered her to back up and she continued to walk toward him until he unholstered his taser and pointed it at her.
She accused her neighbors of being involved in pedophilia and claimed again her name was “Helen,” and said, “Juile is in heaven,” and asked one of the neighbors, “Who is your god,” Grinnell said.
She then said, “You see, the thing is, we needed to trick Lucy.” Lucy, LCSO learned, is Sulpizio’s nickname for Lucifer. She then pointed at the corporal and said, “See, you are one of them. See, we needed to trick the evil to come out.”
One of the victims told deputies Sulpizio wanted the neighbors to walk in front of her and go to her house, but they refused because they did not trust her, Grinnell said.
The victim asked her if Michael Sulpizio was OK, and she said, “Oh see, he sent me down here.”
The victim responded, “Oh, did he,” and she said, “Yes, my husband, my God.”
She attempted to convince them to go to her house and said, “Yes, Michael I’m coming,” and walked toward the LCSO corporal who put out his hand to block her and Sulpizio pushed his hand away. He pointed his taser at her which emits a piercing sound and a flashing light and Sulpizio said, “That’s God’s light.”
She walked toward the corporal again and he redirected her to the ground and told her to stay down. He began to cuff her, and she said, “You wanna play? You’re just making me madder.”
Sulpizio, now on her back, stated, “Let’s do this now. I can feel him.” Then she yells, “Michael, Gabriel, Timothy; it’s time now to protect my children.” Another deputy arrived and the corporal handcuffed Sulpizio.
The corporal and a sergeant arrived at the Sulpizio home, which is in walking distance of the original incident, to conduct a well-being check on Cheyenne and Savannah Sulpizio, Julie’s biological daughters and the adopted daughters of Michael.
They announced themselves at the door and attempted to make contact with someone inside. No one responded and the sergeant saw three people run through the home and one of them looked at the sergeant as they passed the closed door. Deputies also found two small dogs dead in the front yard.
Deputies heard loud banging but could not identify what it was and the corporal noticed an open window with a broken screen and was concerned the occupants may have been victims of a home invasion or a burglary, Grinnell said, and the corporal asked for additional deputies to respond.
Backup deputies arrived and positioned their marked units with their lights on, in view of the Sulpizio home. Master Deputy Bradley Link made multiple announcements over a PA identifying the deputies and calling out to the residents.
A neighbor gave deputies Julie’s number, and deputies called the phone, believing it was inside the home, but it went straight to voicemail.
Shortly after 9 p.m., Link, Master Deputy Harold Howell and and two other deputies attempted to enter the Sulpizio home. They entered through the rear door near the driveway. The door opens to a small laundry room that leads into a hallway that goes left and right.
Link approached the hallway and announced he was going left and indicated Howell should go right. As Link walked into the hallway, his bodycam picked up several frames of what appeared to be a male wearing a black shirt or body armor, with a rifle, positioned on the arm of a couch, ready to ambush deputies. Link did not see the man because he was looking left down the hallway, and the bodycam was facing forward, Grinnell said.
Link entered the hallway and the suspect, believed to be Michael Sulpizio, opened fire, shooting Link in the back several times. Howell is also shot in the wrist. Howell and the other two deputies were forced to retreat out of the residence and Link was immobilized, suffering multiple gunshot wounds and he attempted to crawl on his back to cover, but was unsuccessful. Link emptied his duty weapon of all rounds, Grinnell said.
Link moved his hand in what appeared to be an attempt to answer his radio as his ID number was called out but was also unsuccessful. He was shot several more times.
Someone in the home then started shooting at deputies outside, they took cover and returned fire. Deputies and supervisors on scene attempted to negotiate with the suspects for the release of Link—but they refused.
Link’s bodycam continued to record audio and video and was pointed toward the ceiling, and at 9:24 p.m., a female yelled, “My king kill all of you. You are Lucifer’s children,” in response to deputies asking for Link’s release.
Two minutes later the rescue team entered the home, with Deputy Stephano Gargano in the lead with a ballistic shield as cover. As he approached the threshold of the hallway, Gargano was shot through the wall multiple times, by a high-caliber round, causing him to become incapacitated. The rest of team extracted Gargano and he was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital as a trauma alert.
Link’s body cam continued to record, capturing a female making statements about suicide, in addition to capturing the sound of racking and reloading firearms, Grinnell said.
Just after 11 p.m. deputies heard two rapid gunshots and a third shot a few minutes later and LCSO’s SWAT Team ripped a wall off the residence and extracted Link. He was rushed to a waiting ambulance for transport to a landing zone so he could be flown out for treatment. While en route, the decision was made to transport him to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, where he was ultimately pronounced deceased.
As the SWAT Team cleared the home, they found two deceased females on the couch, dead from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head. Michael Sulpizio was found on the couch with a gunshot wound and a faint pulse. He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.
A search of the home revealed a stockpile of 20 firearms placed strategically around the home. Ammunition, food and water, medical bags and bugout bags, in addition to anti-government propaganda were also found. No illegal drugs were found in the home.
In a later interview, Julie Sulpizio, claiming to be God and often Helen, said God speaks to her. She said Michael was the guardian angel which obeys her (God’s,) command. She said she planned to lure the neighbors to her home so Michael could murder them. She told a detective she could visualize souls and whether they were black or white and her job was to bring Michael dark souls.
“She was not successful because of our deputies,” Grinnell said.
When Julie was informed her family was dead, she said they are free and in heaven now, but did not seem to grasp the concept they are dead, Det. Josh Mercer said.
Several of Sulpizio’s charges are capital crimes that are punishable by death; 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson said his office has 45 days to decide whether they will seek the death penalty.
5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson speaks with the media Monday about the arrest of Julie Sulpizio. PHOTO: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake
She is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond in protective custody and is on suicide watch.
Gargano and Howell are still in the hospital, and Gargano’s condition has been upgraded from critical to stable. He underwent his third surgery Monday. Howell also underwent surgery Monday and is expected to make a full recovery.
LEESBURG, Fla.—Hundreds of residents, law enforcement officers and firefighters lined U.S. Highway 27 to pay their respects and show their support for Master Deputy Bradley Link and his coworkers at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning.
Residents stood in the rain along the 15-mile trek from Leesburg to Minneola, waving flags and saluting Link as he was transported to the funeral home handling his arrangements, bringing tears to the eyes of deputies and residents alike.
TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Public Safety Communications (911) is experiencing intermittent outages due to Hurricane Debby. Residents may not be able to reach dispatchers in an emergency. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call the non-emergency number at 352-343-2101.
