Two Florida deputies who were killed in an ambush by a gunman who opened fire through the window of a Chinese restaurant on Thursday afternoon have been named as Sergeant Noel Ramirez and Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey.

At about 3pm, father-of-two Ramirez, 30, and Lindsey, 25, were eating at the Ace China restaurant in downtown Trenton, when the assailant fatally shot them before turning the weapon on himself.

When other deputies arrived at the scene in northern Florida, about 35 miles west of Gainesville, they found the two officers and the shooter dead. Two holes were visible through the restaurant's window.

Sergeant Noel Ramirez and Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey were eating at the Ace China restaurant in downtown Trenton, when the assailant fatally shot them before turning the weapon on himself

Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office confirmed the names of the two officers in a tweet this evening

President Trump sent his condolences to the families of the victims who he described as 'heroes'

Ramirez (left) and Lindsey (right) were hailed as 'the best of the best' by Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office

Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office told residents to stay away from an area where the attack happened and confirmed no other suspects were at large.

They later confirmed the names of the two officers in a tweet, which read: 'Sergeant Noel Ramirez. Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey. Our heroes, killed in the line of duty today, April 19th, at the Ace China in Trenton. We'll continue to serve you. For them.'

Police have named the shooter as John Hubert Highnote, 59, from Bell, Florida, but are not releasing any more details about him.

Highnote was accused with illegally carrying a concealed weapon in 1978, but this charge was dismissed, according to Heavy.com. Court records described him as white and just under six feet tall.

Sheriff Bobby Schultz said the suspect acted from 'no apparent motive' and refused to comment further because of the 'active criminal investigation'.

Schultz described Ramirez and Linsey as 'the best of the best' before adding, 'I can tell you that I loved them'.

'The world is full of cowards, and the world's full of heroes,' he said. 'We need to highlight those heroes and what they gave.'

Schultz said Ramirez had an infectious smile and was married with two children, according to CNN. Lindsey had a girlfriend and was passionate about drug enforcement.

The Sheriff said he did not want to make the killings 'a political issue', but said: 'What do you expect happens when you demonize law enforcement to the extent it's been demonized? Every type of hate, every type of put down you can think of, the only thing these men were guilty about was protecting you and me.

'They just wanted to get something to eat. And to do their jobs,' he added, before saying the killings had hit him 'like a ton of bricks'.

'We haven't been through anything quite like this before, but what makes our county unique is that we're a family.

'We're going to grieve. We're going to get upset. We're probably going to cuss a little bit. But we're going to remember those two men for who they are. They're heroes.'

President Trump sent his condolences to the families of the victims, tweeting: 'My thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the families, friends and colleagues of the two deputies (HEROES) who lost their lives in the line of duty today.'

There was a heavy police presence outside the restaurant following the shooting on Thursday, as shown in this image taken by WCJB

Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Shultz speaks to the media after the shooting at Ace China in Trenton on Thursday

An officer looks at a helicopter in the skies ahead outside the Ace China restaurant where Ramirez and Linsey were shot

Florida Governor Rick Scott and state Attorney General Pam Bondi also took to Twitter to send their condolences to the victims' families

Florida Governor Rick Scott tweeted: 'I was just briefed by Sheriff Bobby Schultz on today's shooting. I know is on scene and I've offered any state support they may need.'

The state's Attorney General, Pam Bondi, said: 'My heart breaks with the tragic news of two Gilchrist deputies who were senselessly killed today while in the line of duty.

'My deepest condolences and prayers are with their families while they mourn the devastating loss of their loved ones.'

Orlando Police said: 'We are heartbroken to learn that two Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office deputies were killed in the line of duty today. OPD stands in grief with their families and fellow deputies.'

Schultz has spoken to the families of the two victims, according to KVAL.com.

'As you expect you can never be prepared for something like this, but make no mistake I'm proud of their families,' Schultz said.

'They understood when their loved ones pinned on the badge and they strapped on the gun that this was a possibility.'

At about 3pm, the two Gilchrist County Deputy Sheriffs were inside the Ace China restaurant (pictured) in downtown Trenton, when a suspect walked by and fatally shot them

The sheriff's office earlier statement read: 'At approximately 3.00pm, two Gilchrist County Deputy Sheriffs were shot and killed in the Ace China restaurant in downtown Trenton, after a suspect walked up to the business and shot both deputies through the window.

'As fellow deputies responded to the scene, they found the shooter deceased outside the business, and both Deputy Sheriffs dead from their wounds.

'Sheriff Bobby Schultz has been on scene throughout the afternoon with his deputies and their families, notifying additional loved ones.'