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Officials: Burglary suspect sought after armed accomplice fatally shot by deputy

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County deputies said they are searching for a man who was involved in a burglary Thursday afternoon at a home on the 600 block of Delhi Street near West Colonial Drive.

Investigators said Deresha Armstrong, 26, was also involved in the burglary was shot and killed by a deputy when she pulled out a gun.   %

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Deputies said a homeowner called 911 at about 2:30 p.m. to report a break-in at his empty house on Delhi Street after he got an alert from his surveillance system.

By the time deputies got to the neighborhood, the two burglary suspects were one street away in a confrontation with another homeowner.

Deputies said that’s when Armstrong pulled out a gun.

Sgt. Vernon Brown shot and killed her, while her alleged accomplice got away, authorities said.

Brown has been with the department for 21 years and was not hurt in the shooting.

The man whose home the burglars are accused of breaking into did not want to be identified, but said it’s a shame that somebody died.

"I don't respect anyone who breaks in my house," said the homeowner.

Deputies released a photo of the gun Armstrong had on her when deputies confronted her.

Sheriff Jerry Demings didn’t say if she fired or pointed the gun, or if the suspect who is still on the run could be armed.

He did say his deputies are seeing more violence on the job and have to react.

“They’re here to protect their lives as well as the lives of other people and, unfortunately, sometimes we do have to use deadly force to protect ourselves or other people,” Demings said.

Deputies used K-9 units to try and track down the other suspect, but to no avail.