Karl Etters

Democrat staff writer

Final update 6:25 p.m.

In a light rain amid wafting smoke from a house fire in northwest Tallahassee on Saturday, emergency responders tried to piece together the events that led to the shooting death of a Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy.

LCSO officials say the deputy was ambushed and killed by a gunman while responding to the fire at 3722 Caracus Court in the Plantation Woods neighborhood around 10:15 a.m. A second deputy was shot and injured before the man was shot and killed by Tallahassee Police Department officers who provided assistance.

The name of the slain deputy was not released Saturday. More details about the shooter and the incident are expected at a press conference at noon Sunday.

The fallen deputy's name was widely publicized on social media following the shooting, but at the request of LCSO the Tallahassee Democrat is not reporting the name until it is officially released.

LCSO spokesman Lt. James McQuaig said after the gunman killed the first deputy on the scene, he took the deputy's firearm and walked down the residential street shooting. He shot and wounded another LCSO deputy in the process. As more first responders began to arrive, TPD officers engaged the man, shooting and killing him.

McQuaig said the incident is still under investigation. At least nine emergency response agencies were at the scene.

"There are a lot of components at work right now," McQuaig said. "This thing is still active and still developing. We are in the very early stages of this investigation."

It is not known if anyone was home during the fire or shooting, but the house remained ablaze for several hours Saturday.

The other wounded deputy's injuries are not believed to be serious.

Caracus Court is tucked away in residential neighborhood Plantation Woods off Fred George Road. The quiet neighborhood near Springwood Elementary School is filled with single-family homes.

During the afternoon, dozens of vehicles of police and residents who were unable to get to their houses within the multi-block crime scene lined the streets of the neighborhood. City buses were brought into the neighborhood to provide shelter from the rain.

Neighbors say they heard a series of alarming gunshots in the early morning hours.

Brad Baker, 23, was at work at the time of the shooting.

"My wife was sleeping, and she heard a bunch of gunshots and then she said they were followed by even more," he said. "She called me so I rushed home immediately."

Baker's wife, Lola, and their one-year-old daughter, Ariana, were very unnerved by what they heard.

"One of the main reasons why I moved here was because there were so many police officers and firemen in this neighborhood, and it's crazy to think something like that could happen right down the street," Baker said.

Elmira Davis, a Tallahassee educator who lives in the neighborhood, was not home at the time of the shooting. But, she said, the incident was unsettling.

"I feel that it was the presence of Jesus that prevented more injuries or fatalities," Davis said. "This is a very quiet middle-class neighborhood off of Fred George Road near Springwood (elementary). We've not had any trouble here. We are just thankful that this is more the exception, than the rule. I don't think it's representative of the families that live here."

Cheryl Barfield owns the home where emergency responders were first called to Saturday morning.

Barfield, who is currently living in Titusville, said her sister had been house-sitting for her, but declined to comment further when reached Saturday afternoon.

Barfield said she was just learning details of what occurred when contacted by the Democrat.

Saturday's shooting follows shocking events Thursday on Florida State University campus. Myron May, 31, shot two students and an employee at the Strozier Library. One student is still in critical condition. The two others have been released from the hospital. May was shot and killed by police on the library's front steps.

Within hours, Gov. Rick Scott released a statement offering condolences to the slain and injured deputies and commenting on the proximity of Saturday's shooting to the one at FSU.

"Today, we are saddened to learn of a Leon County sheriff's deputy who was killed in the line of duty this morning. We also learned that another sheriff's deputy was shot and wounded, and we hope for their speedy recovery," Scott said in the statement. "Law enforcement in our state's capital area faced especially tumultuous circumstances this week, and they have responded with the kind of bravery and heroism that families across Florida honor."

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and sate Rep. Alan Williams D-Tallahassee lauded the work of emergency responders in statements released after the shooting.

"Our fire and law enforcement officers put the safety of others above all else," Gillum said. "It is almost unimaginable that a call for help turned into the ambush of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy and the shooting of another deputy by the assailant."

Williams added, ""I am ever grateful for the work and sacrifices of our law enforcement officers and I want to extend my thoughts and prayers for those who serve."

-Tallahassee Democrat reporters Sean Rossman, Jennifer Portman and Byron Dobson contributed to this article

Update: 4:02 p.m.

Leon County Sheriff's deputies and other emergency officials were initially responding to a house fire at 3722 Caracus Court when a deputy was ambushed and shot and another deputy wounded.

LCSO will not release today the name of the deputy who was killed while responding to the fire this morning. Lt. James McQuaig, LCSO spokesman, said that information won't come out until tomorrow.

A news release form LCSO said that as Tallahassee Fire Department responders arrived to fight the fire, the gunman also shot at them.

When the Tallahassee Police Department officers responded to assist, they engaged the gunman, shooting and killing him.

Update 3:35

The initial fire call came from a Caracus Court home owned by Cheryl Barfield. Barfield, who is currently living in Titusville, said her sister had been housesitting for her, but declined to comment further when reached Saturday afternoon.

Barfield said she was just learning details of what occurred

Update 3:20 p.m.

Leon County Sheriff's deputies and other emergency officials were initially responding to a house fire at 3722 Caracus Court when a deputy was ambushed and shot and another deputy wounded.

LCSO spokesman James McQuaig, said about 10 a.m. deputies responded to a house fire on Caracus Court in the Plantation Woods neighborhood of northwest Tallahassee.

The first deputy to respond was killed.

"He was ambushed and he was shot and he was killed," McQuaig said.

The gunman then took the deputy's firearm and walked down the street shooting the weapon. He shot and wounded another LCSO deputy in the process.

Deputies then shot and killed the man.

LCSO and TPD crime scene units are on scene gathering evidence.

"There are a lot of components at work right now," McQuiag said. "This scene is still active. It is still developing.

LCSO will give a full update at 7 p.m.

Caracus Court is tucked away in residential neighborhood Plantation Woods off Fred George Road. The quiet neighborhood near Springwood Elementary School is filled with single-family homes.

Elmira Davis, a Tallahassee educator who lives in the neighborhood. She was not home at the time of the shooting.

"I feel that it was the presence of Jesus that prevented more injuries or fatalities," Davis said. "This is a very quiet middle-class neighborhood off of Fred George Road near Springwood (elementary). We've not had any trouble here. We are just thankful that this is more the exception, than the rule. I don't thnk it's representative of the families that live here."

Update: 1:59 p.m.

Residents in a northwest Tallahassee neighborhood where a deputy was shot and killed and another deputy wounded this morning say they heard a series of alarming gunshots.

Brad Baker, 23, was at work at the time of the shooting, but he rushed home.

"My wife was sleeping, and she heard a bunch of gunshots and then she said they were followed by even more," he said. "She called me so I rushed home immediately."

Baker's wife, Lola, and their one-year-old daughter, Ariana, were very unnerved by what they heard.

"One of the main reasons why I moved here was because there were so many police officers and firemen in this neighborhood, and it's crazy to think something like that could happen right down the street," Baker said.

Tallahassee police officers and the Leon County Sheriff's deputies continue to investigate the scene. The shooter was shot and killed during the incident.

Emergency responders first went to the neighborhood on Caracus Court after reports of a house fire. Investigators are now focusing their attention on a home at the corner of Caracus Court and Carnwath Road.

Caracus Court is tucked away in residential neighborhood Plantation Woods off Fred George Road. The quiet neighborhood near Springwood Elementary School is filled with single-family homes.

Tallahassee.com has a reporter on the scene and will continue to provide updates.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office's next news briefing is expected at 7 p.m.

Update: 1:35 p.m.

Officers have placed crime scene tape around a home at the corner of Caracus Court and Carnwath Road in northwest Tallahassee in the area of where a deputy was shot and killed earlier today.

Gov. Rick Scott has issued the following statement:

"Today, we are saddened to learn of a Leon County sheriff's deputy who was killed in the line of duty this morning. We also learned that another sheriff's deputy was shot and wounded, and we hope for their speedy recovery. Ann and I pray that God provides comfort to those who have been impacted by these senseless acts, and we also pray that God watch over the heroes in law enforcement who put their lives on the line each and every day to protect our loved ones. Law enforcement in our state's Capitol area faced especially tumultuous circumstances this week, and they have responded with the kind of bravery and heroism that families across Florida honor."

Tallahassee.com has a reporter on the scene and will continue to provide updates.

Update: 12:33 p.m. and 12:55 p.m.

A Leon County Sheriff's Office responding to a house fire was ambushed, shot and killed by a gunman this morning.

LCSO spokesman James McQuaig, said about 10 a.m. deputies responded to a house fire on Caracus Court in the Plantation Woods neighborhood of northwest Tallahassee.

The first deputy to respond was killed.

"He was ambushed and he was shot and he was killed," McQuaig said.

The gunman then took the deputy's firearm and walked down the street shooting the weapon. He shot and wounded another LCSO deputy in the process.

Deputies then shot and killed the man.

LCSO and TPD crime scene units are on scene gathering evidence.

"There are a lot of components at work right now," McQuiag said. "This scene is still active. It is still developing.

LCSO will give a full update at 7 p.m.

Update: Noon

A Leon County deputy was killed this morning by a gunman, who also was killed, in the Plantation Woods neighborhood of Tallahassee this morning.

Leon County Administrator Vince Long sent a text message to commissioners earlier today that first responders were called to the northwest Tallahassee neighborhood to a reported house fire.

"Upon arrival, shots were fired," Long said. "A deputy was killed and we are transporting another one. The shooter has also been killed."

Long said another deputy is being transported.

Original Update:

One shooting victim is hospitalized after more than 20 Tallahassee Police Department and Leon County Sheriff's Office vehicles are currently on scene at the Plantation Woods neighborhood off of Fred George Road.

A Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare spokeswoman said they have taken in one victim from the shooting.

Lt. Mike Bellamy, spokesman for the Tallahassee Fire Department, said firefighters are also working a blaze in the neighborhood as well.

Plumes of smoke are billowing throughout the neighborhood. TFD Chief Jerome Gaines, TPD Maj. Lonnie Scott and city of Tallahassee officials are on scene.

Carnwath Road is blocked off by crime scene tape.

Details are sparse at this time. The Tallahassee Democrat has a reporter on scene.

Check back with Tallahassee.com for more information.

Two star metro city busses pulled into the scene.