2 Florida deputies fatally shot in Gilchrist County

TRENTON, Fla. (WOGX FOX 51) - Two young deputies in Gilchrist County, Florida were murdered in broad daylight on Thursday afternoon.  Investigators are calling it a senseless act of violence.

Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 29, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey, 25, were just sitting down for lunch at the Ace China restaurant in Trenton, Florida, when a lone gunman approached the window and fired two shots – killing them instantly.  

Bullet holes could be seen in the window where the man without a motive opened fire. They were ambushed with no chance to return fire, investigators say, murdered in cold blood. The gunman was found dead in the parking lot.  

“You’re just one call away from something like this,” Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Shultz III said.

Shocked and devastated, law enforcement agencies across the state are mourning for two of their own.

“They were the best of the best,” Shultz said. “They were men of integrity. They are men of loyalty. God fearing and they loved what they did.”

Shultz said he knew the two men personally and met with their families.  

“I told them that they can be proud of those men,” he said.  

The shooter has been identified as 59-year-old John Hubert Highnote of Bell. Sheriff Schultz had one thing to say about attacks against law enforcement. 

“What do you expect happens when you demonize law enforcement to the extent that it has been demonized?” he asked. “Every type of hate. Every type of put down you can think of -- the only thing these men were guilty of was wanting to protect you and me.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is continuing to investigate this double homicide of two sheriff deputies. The Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office said they plan to honor those two men by continuing to serve their communities.Gilchrist County Schools are asking students and staff wear blue tomorrow to honor the fallen heroes.