Advertisement 'We lost a hero,' Sheriff Jerry Demings says of Orange County deputy killed Suspect dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A deputy was killed in a shooting in southwest Orange County early Tuesday morning while investigating a car burglary.Deputy Scott Pine, 34, was responding to Apopka-Vineland Road and Westminster Abbey Boulevard and found a person fitting the description of the suspect, according to Capt. Angelo Nieves."Around midnight, our deputy encountered the suspect and the suspect took off running. The deputy sheriff took off in pursuit in the area of Longmore Court and Westminster Abbey Boulevard," said Orange County Undersheriff Rey Rivero. "The deputy was hit and kept running. We called for help, shots fired, and right after that, another shot was heard."Watch: Authorities hold news conference following shootingPine, who was shot three times, did not fire back at the suspect. His protective vest prevented two of the three bullets, but the third shot killed him, said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.Watch: Who is Deputy Scott Pine?"Scott acted bravely and gave his life, making a difference so others could sleep safely," Demings said.The suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Benjamin Holtermann, was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound."It's a sad day for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, our officer family and basically for law enforcement in general," said Rivero. "As you know, we lost one of our own tonight."Erica Pugh, 19, who was found nearby in a stolen 2007 Honda Accord, was arrested and allegedly confessed that she and Holtermann were responsible for the recent car burglaries in the area.According to deputies, she also confessed to an armed robbery on Friday. Pugh is accused of acting as a lookout for Holtermann and has no known ties to Orange County, the arrest affidavit said.Read: Holtermann was linked to crimes in Maryland, VirginiaShe is facing grand theft of a motor vehicle and burglary charges. She is being held without bond and will make her first appearance in front of a judge on Wednesday.Watch: Who was accused deputy killer Benjamin Holtermann?About 25 auto burglaries in the last month had sparked more surveillance and active patrolling in the area by the Orange County Sheriff's Office.Pine "wanted to bring to an end the crime spree," Demings said. "He wanted to make a difference in this community."Pine was a husband and father of three children. He had been on the force since January 2011."When a law enforcement agency loses one of its own to a senseless and unthinkable act, the community pauses to try and understand the loss," Demings said. "There really is little we can do but honor and pay tribute to the men and women we all too often take for granted while they serve."Sheriff's Office deputies will wear black mourning bands over their badges until Feb. 24 "as a testament to the sacrifice Scott made," Demings said.The deputy's death is the 17th Orange County Sheriff's law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty, and the sixth to die by gunfire, according to the Officer Down Memorial website, which tracks officer deaths. Deputy Brandon Coates was the last deputy to die in the line of duty in Orange County. He was shot and killed during a traffic stop in December 2010."We’re sad. In many ways our heart is broken, but we’re not broken; we’re still focused on the task at hand," Demings said. "We still have much work to do in this community."Officials have setup an account for donations to Pine's family. Anyone wishing to donate to Pine's family can do so at any Orlando Federal Credit Union branch.