PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — What began as a routine domestic violence call quickly became a life-or-death rescue — one that would forever change a Port St. Lucie police lieutenant.

On September 28, 2024, Port St. Lucie Police were dispatched to a home where 911 callers reported a violent domestic dispute. According to dispatch audio, children could be heard screaming as they told operators their mother was being attacked and the front door was barricaded.

When Lieutenant Salvadore Garcia and other officers arrived, they were immediately met with the overwhelming smell of gasoline.

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Inside the home, officers heard screaming children and a woman begging for help. Garcia says it was clear the situation was rapidly escalating.

“She’s screaming, ‘Help me, help me,’ trying to get out — and he’s yelling at us to get out of here,” Garcia recalled.

Based on information from the couple’s six-year-old triplets and the strong smell of gasoline, officers believed the suspect intended to kill the woman.

They entered the home and found the woman zip-tied inside the garage, which had been turned into a makeshift prison. Officers could hear the hissing of gas.

Moments later, Garcia says the suspect grabbed a propane tank and a lighter.

“As soon as he brought them together, my biggest concern was the three little kids above us,” Garcia said. “He was going to blow the house up. Nobody was going to make it out.”

With seconds to act, Garcia made the split-second decision to fire, killing the suspect.

Officers then raced to rescue the woman and children, but the front door was still barricaded. Body camera video captures the frantic effort to get everyone out safely as the woman struggled to breathe.

All victims survived.

While the decision saved lives, Garcia says the emotional toll remains heavy.

“I was upset about shooting someone,” he said. “I didn’t wake up that morning thinking this was what was going to happen. Multiple lives were affected — his family’s, mine, the officers, the neighbors. That stays with you for the rest of your life.”

An internal investigation later cleared Lieutenant Garcia in the shooting.