Florida Deputy Shoots Knife-Wielding Man, Saves 7-Year-Old Hostage

In Brandon, Florida, Deputy Antonio Gonzalez responded to a domestic violence call involving Mario Camacho, who was holding his 7-year-old brother hostage at knifepoint in a barricaded bedroom. Camacho, wearing a motorcycle helmet and tactical ballistic vests, refused multiple commands to release the child, prompting Gonzalez to shoot him once, fatally wounding Camacho and rescuing the boy. The incident was captured on bodycam footage, showing the deputy kicking down the door after hearing the child's screams and swiftly neutralizing the threat. The suspect’s older sister had called for help, reporting that Camacho had also been cutting her with a knife. Gonzalez, who has nearly six years of service with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation, a standard procedure in deputy-involved shootings. The boy was safely rescued, and Camacho was pronounced dead at Brandon Regional Hospital.