Brandon, FL – A 27-year-old man was shot and killed by Hillsborough County deputies Sunday afternoon after allegedly holding his 7-year-old brother hostage during a violent domestic incident in Brandon.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called at 2:04 p.m. on November 2, 2025, to a home on the 100 block of Alpine Drive following reports of a domestic violence situation in progress. The caller told dispatchers that the suspect, identified as Mario Camacho, was allegedly armed with a knife and choking his younger brother.
When deputies arrived, they found Camacho barricaded in a back bedroom with the child. Deputies heard the boy screaming for help and forced their way inside. According to officials, Camacho was wearing a motorcycle helmet and two tactical vests with ballistic plates, and he refused to drop the knife despite several commands.
A deputy then shot Camacho, rescuing the 7-year-old boy. The suspect was transported to Brandon Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 2:47 p.m.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is investigating the incident, as is standard in deputy-involved shootings. Officials say the child was safely recovered and did not suffer serious injuries.
