Two FBI agents fatally shot while serving warrant in Florida

Two FBI agents were fatally shot and three others injured early Tuesday while serving a warrant in South Florida, the bureau confirmed.

The FBI said agents were serving a warrant in Sunrise, Fla., involving a “violent crimes against children case” when the shooting occurred.

FBI Director Christopher Wray identified the two killed agents as Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger.

Two of the injured agents were taken to an area hospital and are in stable condition. The FBI reported the suspect is deceased, and the investigation is ongoing.

“Every day, FBI Special Agents put themselves in harm’s way to keep the American people safe. Special Agent Alfin and Special Agent Schwartzenberger exemplified heroism today in defense of their country,” Wray said in a statement.

“The FBI will always honor their ultimate sacrifice and will be forever grateful for their bravery. We continue to stand by our FBI Family, and the families of these Special Agents, in the days to come, bringing every resource we can to get through this together.”

Sunrise police told the Miami Herald that the resident was a man who was suspected in a federal child pornography investigation. 

A spokesperson for the Sunrise Police Department told The Hill that the FBI, along with other agencies, went to serve a warrant at about 6 a.m. before shots were fired. The suspect barricaded himself inside a home at the Water Terrace apartment complex, the department added.

The spokesperson said authorities could not confirm how many shots were fired.

The Sunrise Police Department reported “heavy police presence” in the area and requested that residents in the surrounding community stay in their homes. 

*Update* 8:40am: We ask that residents in the community, Water Terrace remain in their homes. Law Enforcement still has the entrances blocked at this time. Thank you for your patience.

— Sunrise Police FL (@SunrisePoliceFL) February 2, 2021

The FBI agents were executing a search warrant to obtain the suspect’s computer and other evidence after tracking down the address of the computer via an internet service provider, law enforcement sources told the Herald. If evidence was found, federal authorities were reportedly likely to charge the man with possessing child pornography.

Updated: 1:24 p.m.