EUSTIS, Fla. — A man was shot and killed Wednesday by deputies after they said he entered an auto parts store in Eustis and shot two clerks. Deputies said he was accused of stalking one of the clerks, who died from her injuries.
The Eustis Police Department said it received a stalking complaint from Rose Nelson, who worked at the Advanced Discount Auto Parts on North Highway 19.
Investigators said Nelson was being stalked by 57-year-old Gilberto Rivera, but when she went for help, she didn't know his full name, so Nelson was asked to identify him through a photo lineup at the police station on Wednesday, but she was killed first.
Lake County Deputies said Rivera had a violent criminal history, including attempted murder charges.
However, Rivera entered the store and opened fire about 8:15 a.m., killing Nelson and injuring Trina Perkins, deputies said.
"911," said a dispatcher.
"(Gunshots, screams) "Oh my God!" the caller is heard screaming.
Lake County sheriff's deputies responded to the call to assist Eustis police with what was initially reported as a robbery at the store. However, it was later determined that the stalking suspect had entered the store and shot the clerks.
"She was terrified of this man," said friend Freddie Wilkerson. "She said she was terrified."
Rivera fled the area, and a large search was conducted by Eustis police officers and Lake County deputies, including K-9s and a helicopter.
The Eustis SWAT Team was practicing nearby, but investigators said the SWAT wasn't deployed because a bloodhound led them to believe Rivera left in a car.
Shortly after, deputies shot and killed Rivera in a wooded area near the auto parts store, after he raised his gun.
"Generally, our dogs work together when they're tracking a suspect like this," said Sgt. Jim Vachon of the Lake County Sheriff's Office. "So, a bloodhound was used, as well as a German shepherd. They confronted the individual in the woods. He had his handgun pointed at our deputies. They were forced to use their sidearms, and he is now deceased."
Nelson's stepson, Ivan Hubbard, said his stepmother was in her 50s.
"Everybody knows my mom in that store, everybody does, because she's the nicest kind of person you'll ever meet around here," said Hubbard.
"She was just the best sister," said Nelson's brother, James Goldwire. "She was really sweet. She would help anybody out. I loved her."
Hubbard said his stepmother knew the gunman but was not dating him.
"We don't know too much about him, but I think it was a bad thing for him to do," said Hubbard.
Perkins was taken to Florida Hospital Waterman, where she is expected to recover from her wounds.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is also investigating the incident.
WFTV
