Bodycam Footage: Sheriff’s Deputy Busts Down Door and Makes Precision Shot to Save Child Taken Hostage
A Florida man named Mario Camacho, 27, took his 7-year-old younger brother hostage during a domestic violence incident in Hillsborough county, Florida. Camacho barricaded himself in a bedroom, holding the child with a knife and chokehold. Deputies responded after a 911 call placed by the boy’s sister and forced entry when they heard the child pleading for help. One deputy, Antonio Gonzalez, 25, confronted Camacho, who was wearing a motorcycle helmet and tactical vests with ballistic plates. After repeated commands to drop the knife, Gonzalez fatally shot camacho, rescuing the child. Camacho was pronounced dead at the hospital, and deputies noted his history of domestic violence and mental illness. The deputy’s swift actions under extreme pressure prevented further harm to the child, described by officials as held hostage in his own home.
A Florida man had a knife and a chokehold on his younger brother until a deputy ended the hostage crisis with one shot.
On Sunday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic violence incident, according to a news release posted by the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said Mario Camacho, 27, “barricaded himself with his brother in a back bedroom,” the release said.
“Deputies heard the child screaming for help and kicked down the door. Deputies encountered the suspect, who was holding a knife and refusing to let go of the child,” the release said.
The sheriff’s Office released part of the bodycam video of the deputy who rescued the child.
WARNING: The following video contains vulgar language and graphic images of a shooting that some may find disturbing.
𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆-𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect involved in today’s deputy-involved shooting.
On November 2, 2025, at 2:04 p.m., deputies responded to a domestic violence call in… pic.twitter.com/XZN5G5d0lV
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) November 3, 2025
The child was Camacho’s 7-year-old brother, whom he had in a chokehold.
“The suspect was wearing a motorcycle helmet and two tactical vests with ballistic plates. After several commands to drop the knife, our deputy shot the suspect, rescuing the brother,” the release said.
Camacho was pronounced dead at Brandon Regional Hospital.
The deputy who rescued the child was identified as Antonio Gonzalez, 25. After five years as a detention deputy, he changed jobs and has worked for 11 months as a law enforcement deputy, the release said.
Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said the 911 call was placed by the 7-year-old’s sister, and that the mother of the children was in the house at the time of the incident, according to the Tampa Bay Tribune.
“For lack of a better term, he was a hostage in his own house,” Maurer said, speaking of the 7-year-old.
Absolutely heroic—Deputy Antonio Gonzalez from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office just saved a 7-year-old boy’s life in Brandon (Tampa Bay area) yesterday afternoon.
This is split-second decision-making under max pressure. No de-escalation time, no less-lethal options…— RumDoxyTheatre (@RumDoxy) November 3, 2025
Maurer said that the shot that took down Camacho struck him in the head.
“Mental illness played a part in this incident this afternoon,” Maurer said, according to WTSP-TV.
Maurer said Camacho had a history of domestic violence as well.
Mauer noted that Gonzalez tried to get Camacho to exit the room and broke down the door when the child held at knifepoint begged for help.
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