INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — An Indian River County deputy was grazed in her shoulder by a bullet, and the accused gunman was shot and killed, when deputies showed up at a house to execute a search warrant Sunday morning.
Deputy Kelsey Zorc was treated and released from the hospital.
Zorc, along with members of the SWAT team, were serving a search warrant at a home at 5.45 a.m. in the 4500 block of 35th Avenue in Gifford for illegal drugs.
As the SWAT team approached the house, investigators said Andrew Coffee III, 38, walked out saw law enforcement officers and ran back inside the home. As deputies were attempting to take Coffee, III, into custody, shots were fired from inside the home. Three SWAT team members returned fire and killed a person in the home.
Coffee, his son, Andrew Coffee IV, 23, and three others were taken into custody.
The sheriff’s office announced a crackdown on fugitives, illegal guns and drugs following the death of Deputy Garry Chambliss on Dec. 18, 2015. Chambliss was shot and killed by Andrew Coffee, II, deputies said.
“The Coffee family has a history of violence against law enforcement. Our S.W.A.T. Team is to be commended for their bravery this morning as they again put their lives on the line to apprehend career criminals,” said Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar in a news release.
The three deputies who fired their weapons were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The name of the dead man and the names of the deputies are not being released at this time, deputies said.
More details about this case will be released as they become available.
Cox Media Group
