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Doctor Shoots at US Marshals in Florida
27 Aug
Summary
- Colorado doctor indicted for attempting to kill five U.S. Marshals.
- The doctor was sought on sex-related charges before the incident.
- One marshal was injured; the suspect was wounded and arrested.
A federal grand jury has indicted Thomas Earl Steffens, 72, of Grand Junction, Colorado, on charges stemming from an attempted murder of five U.S. Marshals. The indictment includes five counts of attempted murder of a federal officer and five counts of aggravated assault.
Steffens, a neurosurgeon whose license was suspended, was wanted on an arrest warrant issued in late February for sex-related offenses in Colorado. He had traveled to Vero Beach, Florida, where U.S. Marshals Task Force members located him.
Law enforcement officials reported that Steffens began shooting after the vehicle he was a passenger in was stopped in Indian River County. Deputies returned fire, striking Steffens multiple times. He was hospitalized and later released and arrested. One U.S. Marshal sustained a leg injury and was treated and released. The FBI and local sheriff's office are investigating the case.
