INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. (KKTV) – A former neurosurgeon wanted out of Colorado is in the hospital Tuesday after an overnight officer-involved shooting in Florida, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO).
The shooting occurred late Monday night in Vero Beach, on the east coast of Florida.
72-year-old Thomas Steffens was reportedly wanted out of Grand Junction for two counts of sex assault, strangulation and assault warrants, alleging that he drugged a victim with prescription medications before sexually assaulting her.
According to the IRCSO, Indian River County and Martin County deputies assigned to the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force learned that Steffens was traveling to Treasure Coast and reportedly said he “would not be taken into custody alive.”
Deputies tracked down the vehicle he was traveling in and said Steffens was sitting in the passenger seat and refused multiple orders to exit the vehicle.
The sheriff’s office said Steffens then opened fire on the five Task Force members outside the vehicle. Detectives and U.S. Marshals then returned fire, saying Steffens was struck multiple times.
One U.S. Marshal was hit in the leg by the gunfire and has reportedly been released from the hospital.
According to deputies, Steffens was struck several times by the gunfire and is expected to survive.
Along with the sexual assault charges out of Colorado, deputies said he now also faces murder charges related to the shooting.
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