A woman charged with the fatal shooting of a Lake County deputy and the wounding of two others is slated for an initial court hearing today. Julie Ann Sulpizio, 48, is facing a first-degree premeditated murder charge alongside several counts of attempted murder, according to FOX 35 Orlando. The ambush attack occurred on August 2nd, claiming the life of Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link and injuring his colleagues, Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell and Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano.

The hearing is expected to not just formally advise Sulpizio of the charges but also to possibly grant or deny bond, and it is standard for the accused to be informed of their rights and have an attorney appointed if necessary. Sulpizio is alleged to have orchestrated this act, drawing law enforcement to the scene under the pretense of arresting her, only for officers to be met with gunfire upon entry to her home. According to WFTV, Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell revealed how Master Deputy Link's body-worn camera captured pivotal moments of the fatal encounter.

The complexities of the incident continue to be unraveled, with prosecutors closely reviewing evidence, including the body camera footage that captured the event. Bill Gladson, State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, assessed the case as one eligible for capital punishment. Julie Sulpizio reportedly confessed to attempting to lure neighbors to her property for her husband to execute, a plan thwarted by the swift police response - she revealed this to detectives.