Two additional people — including a well-known retired Catholic priest who served in Palm Bay — were found dead in Sunday shootings that also left the suspect's grandfather fatally wounded and two officers with minor injuries from gunfire, Palm Bay police and the Orlando Diocese confirmed.
The 24-year-old suspected gunman was killed by police.
Palm Bay detectives said Brandon Kapas shot his grandfather, William Kapas, to death following a disturbance at their home just after 2 p.m. Sunday. Officers later found the bodies of retired St. Joseph Catholic Community Father Robert "Bob" Hoeffner and his sister, Sally Hoeffner, attributing the homicides to Kapas.
The deaths of the priest and his sister, found at their home, drew a response from Bishop John Noonan, who oversees the Orlando Diocese and its 400,000 Catholics, along with the congregation where Father Hoeffner worked. Noonan issued the statement Monday afternoon as word of Hoeffner’s homicide quickly spread throughout south Brevard.
“We mourn with the St. Joseph Catholic community in Palm Bay over the tragic loss of these four lives as we pray for the repose of their souls and extend our prayers to their families,” Noonan wrote.
“I share with you that Father Robert “Bob” Hoeffner and his sister, Sally, both were tragically murdered yesterday."
Hoeffner retired in 2016 after serving at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Palm Bay detectives continue to question witness to determine the connection between Kapas and his victims, police reported.
The shooting incident unfolded Sunday in what residents say was an ordinarily quiet neighborhood that sat nestled along Emerson Drive, a major throughway that cuts across the city. Officers were called to the area about 2 p.m. to investigate a domestic disturbance.
Several patrol officers arrived within moments, running after Kapas as he fled to nearby homes just off Americana Boulevard, on the city's northeast side. Two rounds of gunfire erupted, leaving two Palm Bay officers wounded, police reported. Officers then closed in on Kapas, firing several rounds in response, police reported.
Officers found the two after tracking the car that Kapas used. Hoeffner, a well-connected community leader who dealt with members of the law enforcement and firefighting community, and his sister were killed shortly before Kapas went to his grandfather's home for a birthday party, police report.
Palm Bay police scheduled a Monday news conference after FLORIDA TODAY's print deadline. But the aftermath of the shootings, said Palm Bay Police Chief Mariano Augello, will have a far-reaching impact.
“It’s unfortunate. These are circ*mstances that affected multiple families. It was tragic, no matter how you look at it, and it was tragic that our officers were shot protecting our community,” Augello said.
The shootings have left members of Kapas’ family devastated as detectives talk to witnesses in a bid to get at a potential reason for the deadly spree.
“I lost my father. He was my role model. I’m the man I am because of him,” said William Kapas Jr. of his father.
“He was very loving and will be very much missed. Obviously, this is a very traumatic time for us. (Brandon) was my nephew,” Kapas said. He added that the family, whose members have strong ties to St. Joseph Catholic Church, would be putting out a statement at a later time, and that his nephew was struggling after his mother's death.
More:Family: Murder suspect charged with killing 3 suffers from mental illness
Palm Bay Police Chief Augello said the two officers had non-life-threatening injuries and were recovering.
Neighbors reported hearing at least nine gunshots and seeing two bodies in two different areas, not far from Boeing Street and Emerson Drive, a major throughway lined with homes that cuts across the city. Several officers could be seen clustered in the backyard of a home, standing beneath palm trees near one of the bodies.
More:Sheriff: Investigation into homicide continues after woman's body found in Mims
“Two of our officers were shot today as a result of doing their job,” Augello said during a news conference following the shooting.
“We will not tolerate anybody raising their guns toward our officers … (the suspect) fled after shooting at our officers. We pursued him … our officers did what they were supposed to do."
The officers wounded, one in a arm and the other in a leg, were being treated at a nearby hospital, with the police chief saying both were "doing OK."
The shooting incident Sunday brings to nine the number of reported homicides for Brevard County since the beginning of the year. Last week, Palm Bay investigated a deadly shooting that left three family members dead and two others injured at Woodlake Village Apartments, police reported.
Shootings in Palm Bay:How many mass shootings have happened in Florida so far in 2024?
Strong police presence
A large police presence converged on the Palm Bay neighborhood where Sunday's shooting took place, with patrol cars blocking off the area of Emerson Drive and Boeing Street. Officers arrived just after 2 p.m. near Lexington Street and Americana Boulevard, blocking roadways and redirecting traffic. The domestic disturbance call took place in the 400 block of Forgal Avenue.
“I was just trying to go home. I was on the phone with my husband and he said there was one officer coming through, he had a bloodied arm and another officer was trying to wrap it up,” said Dorothy Law, who lives a few houses over from one of the shooting scenes.
“Before that my husband heard all of these gunshots. This kind of thing never happens here. This is a good neighborhood. I just pray to God ... I hope those officers will be OK."
Other neighbors gathered near a Circle K gas station to watch and share what they heard about the shootings.
A video taken by a motorist captured from a distance the moments leading up to the shooting, with several police officers standing near a garage and another group of officers standing behind a group of palm trees in a backyard.
Multiple gunshots can be heard on the video, taken by phone, as officers run from the back of a home, followed by two sets of gunfire.
Officers worked through Sunday evening to gather information and evidence from both crime scenes.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement sent agents to the site investigating the shooting at the request of Chief Augello.
"We know he and his sister are received by the Lord with mercy and love," Noonan said in his statement.
"We also pray for the two police officers who were injured yesterday and for our public servants who safeguard our community, and extend our gratitude to them during this difficult time."J.D. Gallopis a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY.Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 orjgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter:@JDGallop.
