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Victim, suspect in fatal Okeechobee County shooting ID'd

Posted at 3:21 PM, Aug 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-01 20:32:22-04

The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim in a deadly Friday afternoon shooting, the alleged gunman and the deputies who shot the suspect.

At a Monday news conference Sheriff Paul May said Angela Schwendenmann was killed during a domestic disturbance by her husband.

It happened at a home in the Larkee Lakes neighborhood.

Sheriff Paul May said the suspect, David Anthony Schwendenmann left in a vehicle which deputies located at Highway 441 Southeast.

"When he came to a dead stop they started firing, both officers," said Laura Huggins, who says she witnessed the shooting outside the RV park where she lives on Highway 441 Southeast. "Then I guess they hit him and he ran right into that couch."

Neighbor Curt Hair says he saw the shooting, too.

"They started firing on him and all of a sudden they pulled the spikes from the side of the way and he rolled off over here passed these couches," recalled Hair.

They fired multiple shots at the car injuring Schwendenmann who was transported to Lawnwood Medical Center and Heart Institute where he is listed in serious but stable condition.

The Sheriff described the shooting a justified.

“We have a person that killed someone with a shotgun and our deputies made contact with them. There’s three weapons in the car and lots of ammunition in the car, so we’re not going to wait until they shoot one of us before we say we’re justified,” Sheriff May said.

The Sheriff said there is every indication Schwendenmann will survive. He has not yet been interviewed.

Both deputies who fired at the suspect were not injured.

They were identified as Deputy Yero Todman, 41 and Deputy Jose Garduno, 31.

They are currently on paid administrative leave while the sheriff’s office and State Attorney investigate.

The Sheriff describes the deputies as excellent employees and members of the Special Response Team.

The Sheriff said his office had previously been called to investigate a domestic disturbance at the Schwendenmann residence, but he did not elaborate.