Sheriff Flowers Holds Briefing on Bermuda Club Shooting; Questions Remain Regarding Shooter’s History
Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers addressed the media this past Friday regarding the tragic November 21 shooting at the Bermuda Club in Vero Beach. The incident, which occurred during an eviction proceeding, resulted in the deaths of Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow and local locksmith David Long. While the briefing was intended to clarify the events leading up to the ambush, local reporters were restricted from asking questions, leaving several inquiries regarding the agency’s prior knowledge of the shooter unanswered.
The “Not on Radar” Defense
During the 15-minute briefing, Sheriff Flowers defended the agency’s handling of the situation, stating that the gunman, Michael Halberstam, was not flagged as a significant threat prior to the deadly encounter. Flowers emphasized that Halberstam did not meet specific criteria that would have triggered a heightened law enforcement response.
According to the Sheriff, Halberstam was considered “off the radar” because:
- He had not been previously arrested in Indian River County.
- He had not been detained under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows for the involuntary commitment of individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others.
- He had not been subject to a risk protection order (Red Flag Law), which authorizes the seizure of firearms from dangerous individuals.
“I promise this community that if somebody came forward with information that would have been at the level for us to make an arrest, conduct a Baker Act or to get a risk protection order, our team would have done that,” Sheriff Flowers stated.
Missed Warning Signs and Prior Calls
Despite the Sheriff’s statement that the suspect did not rise to the level of official intervention, reports indicate there were multiple interactions and warning signs leading up to the tragedy. Records show there were seven calls for service at the Halberstam residence in November alone regarding the eviction dispute.
One significant event occurred on November 5, weeks before the shooting. During a 911 call, Halberstam’s mother—who owned the home and initiated the eviction—expressed fear for her safety, noting that she locked her bedroom door at night. In the recording, she can be heard telling her son, “You’re mentally ill,” and “Go get help, Michael. You’re sick.” When dispatchers asked if her son had access to weapons, she admitted she did not know what was behind his locked door.
Halberstam recorded this exchange and posted it to his personal Facebook page.
Furthermore, details have emerged regarding Halberstam’s employment history. He was reportedly fired from the UPS Customer Center in Gifford in June 2022 following a physical altercation with a driver. Former co-workers reported harassment and threats, leading to deputies being stationed at the workplace for two weeks to prevent retaliation.
Procedural Questions and Public Safety
Sheriff Flowers characterized the fateful visit to the Bermuda Club as a standard civil process, noting that the agency conducts hundreds of evictions annually without the use of force. He cited body-camera footage where the suspect’s mother allegedly told deputies her son was not aggressive on the day of the shooting.
However, in an interview with local radio host Bob Soos three days after the shooting, Flowers stated that deputies always assume weapons are present on every call. This has led to community questions regarding why a civilian locksmith, David Long, was permitted to enter the residence before the scene was fully secured, particularly given the volatile history at the address.
The Sheriff also addressed criticism regarding agency resources. While he suggested critics of his budget requests were now blaming the agency for doing too little, reports confirm the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office received a $7 million budget increase for the current fiscal year.
As the community continues to mourn the loss of Deputy Sweeting-Mashkow and David Long, the discrepancy between the Sheriff’s official stance—that the shooter was an unknown risk—and the documented history of police calls and workplace threats remains a focal point of public concern.
