advertisement

Authorities say motive in deputy killings may never be known

TRENTON, Fla. (AP) - Investigators in Florida say they may never know why a man - a recluse from a rural farm community who rarely ventured into town - killed two sheriff's deputies while they sat in a Chinese restaurant.

John Hubert Highnote, 58, of Bell casually walked into the restaurant, went up to the Gilchrest County deputies and fired at them. He then went into his car and killed himself.

"It's inexplicable," State Attorney Bill Cervone said. "People will want to know why, and we may never have an answer for them."

Highnote came from a small town just up the road from the Ace China restaurant in Trenton, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Gainesville. He lived alone in a small, brick house off a dirt road shaded under a canopy of trees.

A neighbor who has lived across the street for five years said that Highnote never once introduced himself, and he was rarely seen in town. The only time she ever saw him was when he would drive his truck into the garage.

"I'd see him pull in, shut the garage and go in. No lights on or nothing," said the neighbor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the nature of the crime. She characterized him as a recluse.

Gilchrest County Sheriff Bobby Schultz blamed the deaths of Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 30, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey, 25, on hatred toward law enforcement.

"What do you expect happens when you demonize law enforcement to the extent it's been demonized? Every type of hate, every type of put-down you can think of," Schultz said at a news conference.

"The only thing these men were guilty of is wanting to protect you and me. They just wanted to get something to eat, and they just wanted to do their job," he said.

President Donald Trump called the slain deputies "HEROES" in a tweet sharing his condolences with their friends, families and colleagues.

Court records show Highnote had one traffic ticket from 2012, but no other criminal or civil court record. Property records show he bought his house in 2010.

Schultz said state law enforcement officials are investigating, and an investigator from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was at Highnote's house on Friday.

"Sgt. Ramirez and Deputy Lindsey were the best of the best," Schultz said. "They were men of integrity, men of loyalty. They were God-fearing, and they loved what they did, and we are very proud of them."

Schultz said he rushed to the scene, and then had the difficult task of calling the families of Ramirez, who is survived by his wife and two young children, and Lindsey, who joined the sheriff's office in 2013.

Jamie Mauldin, a waitress at Akins Bar-B-Q about a mile from Highnote's house in Bell said the town is devastated by the loss of the two deputies. She wore a freshly made T-shirt that said "Gilchrist Strong." The proceeds of the shirts will go to the deputies' families.

"Ramirez was the sweetest ever. He loved his family. Loved his job," she said. "Always had a smile."

Gilchrist County Fire Rescue personnel are seen outside the home of John Highnote, in Bell, Fla., Friday, April 20, 2018. Highnote, is suspected of fatally shooting two deputies while they were eating at a restaurant. Highnote then killed himself. (AP Photo/Jason Dearen) The Associated Press
Police look up as a helicopter flies overhead outside of Ace China after a shooting in Trenton, Fla., Thursday, April 19, 2018. Someone fired through the window of a north Florida restaurant Thursday afternoon, killing two deputies who were getting food, officials said. (Lauren Bacho/The Gainesville Sun via AP) The Associated Press
These undated photos made available by the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office shows Sgt. Noel Ramirez, left, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey. Authorities say the two Florida sheriff's deputies were shot dead, Thursday, April 19, 2018, through the window of a Chinese restaurant in Gilchrist, Fla., by a man who then killed himself. (Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office via AP) The Associated Press
Police gather across the street from Ace China in Trenton where they are investigating a shooting in Trenton, Fla., Thursday, April 19, 2018. Someone fired through the window of a north Florida restaurant Thursday afternoon, killing a few deputies who were getting food, officials said. (Lauren Bacho/The Gainesville Sun via AP) The Associated Press
Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Shultz speaks to the media after a shooting at Ace China in Trenton, Fla., Thursday, April 19, 2018. Someone fired through the window of a north Florida restaurant Thursday afternoon, killing a few deputies who were getting food, officials said. Fellow deputies responding to the scene found the shooter dead outside the business.d (Lauren Bacho/The Gainesville Sun via AP) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.