Fellow deputies, neighbors grief-stricken after Orange County deputy's death

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 is learning more about a 34-year-old Orange County Sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed in the line of duty early Tuesday morning.

Deputy Jonathan Scott Pine was pursuing a suspect when he was shot and killed near Westminster Abbey Boulevard.

After his death, deputies and police officers surrounded the home Pine shared with his wife and three young children.

Follow @KCraigWFTV on Twitter and tune in to Eyewitness News at 4 p.m. for continuous updates.

Neighbors told Channel 9 the family's life seemed to be off to the perfect start before the tragedy struck.

"Very fun family," said neighbor Jennifer Shaw. "He always was playing with the little kids. Great family. To know that it's so close to our home, literally, it's awful. It's disgusting."

Channel 9 learned Pine joined the sheriff's office three years ago and was assigned to the uniform patrol division in West Orange County.

Pine was from Louisiana and went to Louisiana Tech before he and his family decided to settle down in Orange County.

Pine's family and many of the neighbors on his tight-knit street were too grief stricken to talk with WFTV.  Those who did fought back tears thinking about their neighbor's wife and children, who are now without a husband and father.

"If she needs anything, I'd help her," said one neighbor. "I couldn't imagine."

Pine's fellow deputies are now wearing a black band around their badges in honor of the young deputy.

Sheriff's deputies told Channel 9 Pine's wife is having a hard time with the news of his death and that most of their family is out of state.

Neighbors said Pine loved to spend time with his children and it was clear he loved them dearly.

http://twitter.com/KCraigWFTV/status/433323186894012416

The suspect accused of shooting Pine was identified as 28-year-old Benjamin Holtermann. He was found dead a short distance from the crime scene, though the circumstances surrounding his death have not been released.

RELATED STORY: Sheriff's Office identifies slain deputy as Jonathan Scott Pine

WFTV