2021 Sunrise, Florida shootout

Coordinates: 26°10′34″N 80°17′07″W / 26.17608°N 80.28534°W / 26.17608; -80.28534
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2021 Sunrise, Florida shootout
Location
murder-suicide
Weapons"Assault-style" rifle[1]
Deaths3 (including the perpetrator)
Injured3
PerpetratorDavid Lee Huber[2]
MotiveUnknown

On February 2, 2021, a shootout occurred between David Lee Huber and several agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at an apartment complex in Sunrise, Florida, United States. At the time, the agents were serving a warrant on Huber related to a child pornography case. Two FBI agents were fatally shot and three others were injured. Huber was later found dead after barricading himself inside the apartment. The incident was one of the deadliest in the FBI's history.

Shootout

At 6:04 a.m., FBI agents investigating a child exploitation case served a federal warrant at the Water Terrace apartment complex, located in an upscale gated community in Sunrise, 11 miles (18 km) outside of

9-1-1 reported hearing multiple gunshots in the apartment complex.[9]

The shootout was the most violent incident in the FBI's history since the 1986 Miami shootout that left two agents dead and five others injured, and it was also the first time an agent was fatally shot in the line of duty since 2008.[4][5][10]

Victims

Two FBI agents were killed in the shootout and three others were injured. Those killed were Special Agent Daniel Alfin, 36, and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger, 43. Schwartzenberger had been with the FBI since 2005, and Alfin since 2009. Both of them specialized in crimes against children. Two of the injured agents, both of whom suffered multiple gunshot wounds, were in stable condition at a hospital and eventually released, while the third did not require hospitalization and was treated at the scene.[4][5][11][12]

Perpetrator

Huber's Department of Motor Vehicles photograph

The gunman, 55-year-old David Lee Huber, was also identified as the subject in the federal warrant.[2][13][14] The FBI and investigators said he was being investigated for possession of child sexual abuse material.[15] A Sunrise Police spokeswoman said the department hadn't had any prior dealings with Huber, nor were they aware of any prior concern that he was armed.[5] The department later said they had been called to his apartment three times in April 2020, twice in one day because of noise and nuisance complaints, and the third time for a "medical run".[14] His only interactions with law enforcement were through a series of traffic tickets and an eviction in Colorado.[15]

Huber was born and raised in

Pembroke Pines before the shooting.[15]

A former coworker said Huber told him that he was suffering from

workplace shooting in retaliation, which led to the company organizing escorts and allowing some employees to bring their firearms into the office.[16]

Reactions

President Joe Biden reacted to the shootout, saying his "heart aches" for the deceased agents.[17] FBI Director Christopher A. Wray praised the two deceased agents in a statement and also said the FBI "will be forever grateful for their bravery." The FBI Agents Association offered condolences to the injured and said the two agents' deaths were "devastating to the entire FBI community and our country."[4][5]

Subsequent events

The investigation led to Operation Bakis in Australia, leading to the arrests of 19 men and the rescue of 13 children in August 2023. As of November 23, 2023, at least 98 people have been arrested in the United States and Australia in connection with the investigation.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Neal, David J.; Rabin, Charles; Weaver, Jay; Ovalle, David (February 2, 2021). "2 FBI agents killed, 3 wounded while serving warrant. Gunman, now dead, shot them through door". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Pipitone, Tony (February 3, 2021). "Suspect Identified in Sunrise Raid That Left 2 FBI Agents Dead". WTVJ. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Detman, Gary (February 3, 2021). "Man who murdered two FBI agents in South Florida identified". WPEC. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Campbell, Josh; Levenson, Eric; Flores, Rosa; Weisfeldt, Sara (February 2, 2021). "Two FBI agents from crimes against children unit killed and three agents wounded in South Florida shootout". CNN. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Yancey-Brigg, N'dea; Johnson, Kevin (February 2, 2021). "FBI identifies 2 agents killed in Florida while serving warrant in crimes against children case". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Burke, Minyvonne; Williams, Pete; Winter, Tom (February 3, 2021). "Two FBI agents fatally shot, three others injured while serving warrant at Florida home". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Webb, Robin; Olmeda, Rafael; Huriash, Lisa J.; Ariza, Mario (February 2, 2021). "Florida shooter saw FBI agents through doorbell camera and opened fire, killing two, sources say". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Spencer, Terry (February 4, 2021). "FBI slayings show risk surveillance cameras pose to police". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "'Gunshots, Lots of Them': 911 Callers Describe Barrage of Bullets in Sunrise FBI Shooting". WTVJ. February 17, 2021. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Perkins, Chris (February 2, 2021). "Among the deadliest: Past incidents that killed FBI agents". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Investigation Continues Into Sunrise Raid That Left 2 FBI Agents Dead, 3 Wounded". WTVJ. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  12. ^ Yancey-Bragg, N'dea; Johnson, Kevin (February 3, 2021). "2 FBI agents killed in Florida shootout hailed as 'heroes' as investigators review incident". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  13. ^ Shapiro, Emily; Barr, Luke (February 2, 2021). "2 FBI agents killed, 3 hurt in shooting while serving warrant in Florida: Officials". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Olmeda, Rafael; Kelley, Eileen; Erblat, Austen (February 3, 2021). "Florida FBI shooting: 55-year-old gunman lived under the radar". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d Blaskey, Sarah; Rabin, Charles; Weaver, Jay; Ovalle, David (February 3, 2021). "Gunman who killed FBI agents led a seemingly mundane life. But some neighbors were wary". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  16. ^ Pipitone, Tony (February 4, 2021). "Ex-Colleagues Of Man Who Killed FBI Agents in Sunrise Say They Feared Revenge". WTVJ. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  17. ^ Seiger, Theresa (February 2, 2021). "2 FBI agents killed, 3 wounded while serving warrant in South Florida". WHBQ-TV. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  18. ^ Zhuang, Yan (August 9, 2023). "98 Arrests in Child Abuse Inquiry That Followed Killing of F.B.I. Agents". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
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