Priest and his sister now added as victims in fatal Palm Bay shooting

A Catholic priest and his sister were identified as additional victims in a Palm Bay shooting Sunday that left the gunman and his grandfather dead and two police officers wounded.

The Catholic Diocese of Orlando on Monday said Father Robert Hoeffner and his sister, Sally, were victims of the Palm Bay gunman, identified by police as Brandon Kapas, 24.

“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,” the statement from Orlando Bishop John Noonan said. “I share with you that Father Robert ‘Bob’ Hoeffner and his sister, Sally, both were tragically murdered yesterday.

“Throughout his priesthood, Father Hoeffner served the people of God with compassion and humility. We will miss his gracefilled presence. We know he and his sister are received by the Lord with mercy and love.”

Around 2 p.m. on Sunday, Palm Bay police officers responded to a home on Forgal Avenue NE on a domestic dispute call and encountered Kapas.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, Palm Bay Police Chief Mariano Augello said Kapas’ uncle warned officers at the scene that Kapas had weapons in a vehicle in front of the house. When Kapas would not respond when officers tried to talk with him, he headed for the vehicle, Augello said. Officers used a taser to try to stop Kapas, but it did not work. Kapas then opened fire, injuring the two officers before he was shot and killed, Augello said. Police later found Kapas’ grandfather dead inside the house on Forgal Avenue an “an arsenal” of weapons in the vehicle.

Augello said the deaths of the the priest and his sister were discovered when officers found that the vehicle Kapas had been driving was not registered to him. It’s not clear if there was any connection between Kapas and the two new victims.

Augello also updated the condition of the wounded officers saying one was released from the hospital on Monday and the other has had surgery and is now recovering.