Palm Bay Police are working to figure out the motive behind the murders of a grandfather, a priest, and the priest's sister.The suspect, 24-year-old Brandon Kapas, was killed during a shootout with officers over the weekend."When I saw the crime scene vans pull up I knew pretty much something bad had happened over there," said David Little, who lives across from the home where the priest and the priest's sister lived. Little said the neighborhood was up all night on Sunday while investigators looked through the house to collect evidence. "A motive for killing them – right now God only knows," Little said. Palm Bay police found 76-year-old Father Robert Hoeffner and 69-year-old Sally Hoeffner dead in the home on Kamloops Street. RELATED: Priest, sister identified as victims in deadly Palm Bay shootoutPolice believe Kapas shot and killed them. "Sally told me that they held bible study in the house for people at church. The only people – I have seen this Kapas guy over there before in a little silver that he drove. Probably about once a week, twice a week," Little said. Around 2:07 p.m. Sunday police received a call from the suspect's uncle about a domestic disturbance during a birthday party. It was at a home on Forgal Avenue. Just before 2:20 p.m., officers came to confront Kapas.They said he wouldn't listen to them, an officer tried tasing him, and then after a struggle, Kapas opened fire hurting two officers.Officers Stephen Ball and Nicholas Franze are expected to recover. After the shooting, Kapas allegedly shot and killed his grandfather, 78-year-old William Kapas Sr.The grandfather was trying to stop the suspect. A family member told WESH 2 the grandfather was visiting from Kentucky to celebrate his sister's birthday. When Kapas got away, police say they eventually found Kapas then shot and killed him. The registration on the car Kapas was driving led investigators to the on Kamloops St. around 7:05 p.m. Sunday. It's when they found the bodies of the priest and his sister.They also found several weapons inside the car."They were always friendly and well-liked in the neighborhood," Little said about his neighbors. Florida Tech Catholic Campus Ministry shared two pictures of Father Hoeffner. The pictures that were taken in April 2023 showed a celebration of Hoeffner's 50th anniversary in priesthood.
PALM BAY, Fla. —
Palm Bay Police are working to figure out the motive behind the murders of a grandfather, a priest, and the priest's sister.
The suspect, 24-year-old Brandon Kapas, was killed during a shootout with officers over the weekend.
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"When I saw the crime scene vans pull up I knew pretty much something bad had happened over there," said David Little, who lives across from the home where the priest and the priest's sister lived.
Little said the neighborhood was up all night on Sunday while investigators looked through the house to collect evidence.
"A motive for killing them – right now God only knows," Little said.
Palm Bay police found 76-year-old Father Robert Hoeffner and 69-year-old Sally Hoeffner dead in the home on Kamloops Street.
RELATED: Priest, sister identified as victims in deadly Palm Bay shootout
Police believe Kapas shot and killed them.
"Sally told me that they held bible study in the house for people at church. The only people – I have seen this Kapas guy over there before in a little silver that he drove. Probably about once a week, twice a week," Little said.
Around 2:07 p.m. Sunday police received a call from the suspect's uncle about a domestic disturbance during a birthday party.
It was at a home on Forgal Avenue.
Just before 2:20 p.m., officers came to confront Kapas.
They said he wouldn't listen to them, an officer tried tasing him, and then after a struggle, Kapas opened fire hurting two officers.
Officers Stephen Ball and Nicholas Franze are expected to recover.
After the shooting, Kapas allegedly shot and killed his grandfather, 78-year-old William Kapas Sr.
The grandfather was trying to stop the suspect. A family member told WESH 2 the grandfather was visiting from Kentucky to celebrate his sister's birthday.
When Kapas got away, police say they eventually found Kapas then shot and killed him.
The registration on the car Kapas was driving led investigators to the on Kamloops St. around 7:05 p.m. Sunday.
It's when they found the bodies of the priest and his sister.
They also found several weapons inside the car.
"They were always friendly and well-liked in the neighborhood," Little said about his neighbors.
Florida Tech Catholic Campus Ministry shared two pictures of Father Hoeffner.
The pictures that were taken in April 2023 showed a celebration of Hoeffner's 50th anniversary in priesthood.
