SEBRING — A deputy-involved shooting that took place earlier today. This information is preliminary, and may change as the investigation proceeds.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. today, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at 6409 Concord Street in the Spring Lake area of Sebring to attempt to contact 63-year-old Bradley Frank Begens.
Begens had multiple active arrest warrants dating back to October 2022 and was a fugitive sex offender, who was previously convicted of attempted sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age.
When deputies arrived on scene, they saw Begens inside the home. At that point, they secured the perimeter of the home and called for back-up units.
A search warrant was obtained for the home. After the warrant was obtained, multiple attempts were made to contact anyone inside the home before deputies breached the front door at around 2:45 p.m. and made entry into the residence.
A search of the house revealed that the door to one of the bedrooms was closed and locked. Deputies once again made repeated attempts to have Begens surrender peacefully, including giving multiple K-9 warnings.
When deputies forced entry into the bedroom, they discovered Begens hiding in a closet. He refused to show his hands and surrender, at which time a K-9 was deployed.
As the K-9 made contact with Begens, he raised a handgun. At that point, which was approximately 2:52 p.m., deputies fired several rounds at Begens. Deputies initiated life saving measures however, Begens died at the scene of the shooting.
When deputies entered the closet they discovered 60-year-old Doreen Murphy Turner. She was not wounded in the shooting, but was taken into custody and will be charged with felony murder in the second degree and resisting arrest with violence.
No Highlands County Sheriff’s Office personnel, including the K-9, were injured during the incident. The deputies involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force, which includes law enforcement officers from Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties, as well as the State’s Attorney Office, will conduct the investigation.
