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Two FBI agents were killed in a shooting while three others were wounded on Tuesday morning.
The FBI agents were serving a search warrant in a child pornography case.
The suspect, who opened fire on the agents from inside the house, also died. The man has not yet been identified.
“The incident occurred around 6 a.m. in the vicinity of 10100 Reflections Boulevard in Sunrise, Florida. Two of the injured agents were transported to the hospital and are in stable condition,” the FBI told Fox News.
The third injured was treated at the scene.
The two FBI agents killed
The two FBI agents killed in the shooting are Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, and Daniel Alfin, 36.
“Dan and Laura left their home this morning to carry out the mission they signed up for and loved doing: keeping American people safe,” FBI Special Agent in Charge for Miami George Piro said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“This morning’s operation in Sunrise ended tragically with the suspect opening fire on members of the search team,” the special agent explained.
According to the Miami Herald, the suspect fired at the officers with an assault rifle through an unopened door as they approached the residence. After a confrontation, he committed suicide, although official confirmation has not been issued.
According to Fox News, “Schwartzenberger, who is outlived by her husband and two children, joined the FBI in 2005 and had specialized in crimes against children for the past seven years.”
Schwartzenberger was a courageous and committed woman for the cause of education and safety. In addition to pursuing criminals in her job to defend children, she also dedicated herself to educating young people about online safety issues and cybercrime.
“She sacrificed her life to protect young people,” Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho tweeted Tuesday.
“From speaking to [Rockway Middle School] students about cyber safety, to fighting crimes against children, [FBI] Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger was deeply dedicated to her work. Our hearts go out to her family, as well as to SA Daniel Alfin’s family.”
Rockway School released a statement on Tuesday where they mentioned that the FBI agent had been educating students there for five years.
“With her presentations, students would gain an awareness of online safety, cyberbullying and experience the evidence response process of an FBI agent'” the school said. “She would always answer all the students questions directly with care, but with firmness, to always remind them of the real world.”
The second FBI agent who died in the line of duty, Daniel Alfin, was also an agent committed to protecting the most vulnerable: children.
“Alfin joined the FBI in 2009 and had worked on crimes against children cases for six years,” Fox News reported. “In 2017, he was heavily involved in taking down what was believed to be the world’s largest child pornography website.”
“It’s the same thing that happens with any criminal offense: As they get smarter, we adapt, we find them,” Alfin said at the time, according to the FBI. “It’s a cat-and-mouse game, except it’s not a game. Children are abused, and it’s our job to stop it.”
Alfin is also outlived by a wife and son.
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón is a journalist at El American specializing in the areas of American politics and media analysis // Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón es periodista de El American especializado en las áreas de política americana y análisis de medios de comunicación.
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