Honoring the deputy killed in a Lake County ambush with surviving colleagues

In Lake County, Florida, almost 10 months following a fatal ambush that took the life of a sheriff’s deputy and wounded two others, a national nonprofit has recognized the fallen and surviving officers for their bravery.

At the Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation awarded the Stephen Siller “Hero to Hero” Prize to Master Deputy Bradley Link and acknowledged Deputies Harold Howell and Stefano Gargano for their valor on Thursday evening.

Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell expressed, “I want to tell everyone that Master Deputy Bradley Link died a hero. And these two men right here are patriots,” during the event.

Grinnell accepted the award on behalf of the sheriff’s office, which includes more than 900 sworn and civilian personnel. “I would just like to say thank you on behalf of the professional men and women of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

Link was fatally shot on Aug. 2, 2024, while responding to a domestic dispute on Brookside Drive.

Deputies said Julie Sulpizio lured officers into the home where her husband and two adult daughters were waiting with a stockpile of firearms. Link was killed, and Deputies Howell and Gargano were shot and seriously injured.

Daniel Link, the deputy’s father, accepted the posthumous award on behalf of his son.

Tunnel to Towers, founded after the Sept. 11 attacks, honors fallen and injured first responders and veterans across the nation. John Manning, the organization’s Central Florida director and a retired New York City firefighter, said the event served as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement.

“This incident happened 10 months ago,” Manning said. “We want to make sure we never forget.”

As of this week, both Howell and Gargano have not yet returned to patrol duty.