Hero Florida Cop Ends Hostage Standoff With Single Bullet to the Head [WATCH]

A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man who was holding a 7-year-old boy at knifepoint during a tense standoff in a home just outside Tampa on Sunday afternoon.

The encounter, captured on body camera video released by the sheriff’s office, showed Deputy Anthony Gonzalez acting within seconds to protect the child from imminent danger.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence after a 911 call reported that a man was attacking a child inside.

When Gonzalez, 25, arrived on the scene, he could hear the child pleading for help from behind a closed bedroom door.

Bodycam footage showed Gonzalez kicking open the door and confronting a man later identified as 27-year-old Mario Camacho.

Camacho was wearing body armor and a motorcycle helmet and was holding a knife to the throat of the 7-year-old boy, who was later confirmed to be his younger brother.

Deputy Gonzalez can be heard shouting for Camacho to drop the weapon several times.

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Despite repeated commands, the suspect did not comply.

Moments later, Gonzalez fired a single shot, striking Camacho in the head and stopping the attack.

The footage then showed Gonzalez quickly pulling the child to safety.

Other deputies entered the room to secure the scene and render aid to the suspect.

Camacho was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to a report from ABC 7.

Authorities said the family had contacted law enforcement earlier in the day to report that Camacho was assaulting the boy and threatening him with a knife.

Deputies arrived within minutes and were met with a chaotic and dangerous situation inside the home.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister praised the deputy’s actions during a news briefing, describing the incident as a matter of life and death.

“Deputy Gonzalez’s quick response and decisive action saved a child’s life,” Chronister said.

“There is no question that his courage and training prevented what could have been an unthinkable tragedy.”

Following department policy, Gonzalez has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a formal investigation into the use of force.

Sheriff’s officials confirmed that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will review the case independently, as is standard in officer-involved shootings.

The 7-year-old boy was unharmed and is now in the care of family members, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies provided emotional support resources for the family following the incident.

Investigators are still working to determine what led to the violent confrontation.

Preliminary findings suggest that Camacho may have been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the attack, though officials have not confirmed a motive.

The sheriff’s office said the case remains active and that further updates will be released after the FDLE completes its investigation.

Deputy Gonzalez, who has been with the department for several years, is expected to undergo a review process before returning to duty.

The sheriff’s office emphasized that the shooting appeared to be a justified use of deadly force to protect the life of a child.