BRANDON, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has released new details following a dramatic deputy-involved shooting that saved a 7-year-old boy from a knife-wielding assailant in Brandon on Sunday afternoon.
The deceased suspect has been identified as Mario Camacho, 27. The deputy who fired the single shot, saving the child, is Deputy Antonio Gonzalez, 25.
Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer provided a harrowing account of the incident, which occurred after deputies responded to a domestic violence call on the 100 block of Alpine Drive at 2:04 p.m.
Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect barricaded in a back bedroom. According to an HCSO statement, deputies acted swiftly after hearing the child screaming for help. They reportedly kicked down the door and immediately encountered the suspect, who was holding a knife and refusing to release the child.
“The deputies command him, drop the knife, let the boy go. [He] doesn’t respond to those commands,” Chief Deputy Maurer said. “Our Deputy had to fire his weapon one time. One time. The suspect then fell to the ground, and we rescued that young boy to safety. Again, heroic by the deputies.”
Maurer emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “There’s no doubt in my mind that that boy would have been harmed if it weren’t for the actions of our deputies.”
The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced deceased. No information on the identities of those involved has been released at this time.
Chief Deputy Maurer detailed the immediate aftermath and the suspect’s background:
- First Aid and Death: Following the shot, deputies immediately provided first aid to Camacho, who was transported to Brandon Regional Hospital. He was pronounced deceased at 2:47 p.m.
- Suspect History: Mario Camacho had a prior history of domestic violence charges in Polk County. He was convicted in 2023 for domestic violence battery, simple battery, and a threat to do violence. He was also the subject of a Baker Act (involuntary mental health examination) in Volusia County in July 2024.
- Deputy Gonzalez: The deputy who fired the weapon, Antonio Gonzalez, has five years with the HCSO, including four years in the Department of Detention and 11 months as a Law Enforcement Deputy. He has no other use of force incidents on his record.
In line with standard procedure for deputy-involved shootings, the investigation into the use of force will be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
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