Florida Man Goes on Shooting Spree, Killing Grandfather, Priest, and Woman Before Cops Fatally Wound Him

A Florida man went on a shooting rampage, killing his grandfather, a Roman Catholic priest and the priest’s sister before police fatally shot him, according to authorities.

Police were recently called to a residence in Palm Bay about a domestic disturbance.

Responding officers spoke with the suspect’s uncle, who said they were having trouble with 24-year-old Brandon Kapas, WESH reported. The uncle told officials that Kapas was allegedly armed and he had more weapons in his vehicle.

Kapas then came out of the house, refused to cooperate with police and headed toward his vehicle, officials said. Officers fired a stun gun at Kapas, but he wasn't slowed down, according to police.

One of the officers then struggled with Kapas, but when he was able to break free the shootout occurred, WESH reported.

Kapas was killed in the gunfight and two police officers were wounded. Palm Bay Police Chief Mario Augello told WESH that one officer has been released from the hospital and the other successfully underwent surgery.

When officers entered the residence, they found Kapas’s grandfather, 78-year-old William Kapas Sr., dead. Family members told police that Brandon Kapas reportedly shot the elderly man as he was chasing after him to get Brandon to stop, WESH reported.

Investigators determined the vehicle Kapas was driving was not registered to him, so they went to the address on the registration to speak with the owners of the vehicle. That is when they found Rev. Robert Hoeffner and his sister, Sally Hoeffner, shot dead, police said.

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The relationship between Kapas and the Hoeffners was unclear.

When searching the vehicle, police found an arsenal of weapons and ammunition. Augello said, “Our officers’ actions yesterday prevented something even more tragic or devastating from happening, and potentially what could have been an active shooter scenario.”

According to WOFL, Kapas was arrested in 2023 for a DUI and reckless driving and in 2019 for another DUI and resisting arrest.