FBI agents killed in Florida shooting: What we know

Here’s what we know about the incident so far:

What happened during the shootout

The FBI hasn’t said much about the warrant, other than it was ordered by a federal court relating to a case of violent crimes against children.

Sunrise police have said the shooting happened at the apartment complex at 6:04 a.m. Details about the exact sequence of events haven’t been released, but here is a summary of key known developments:

• The person officers were looking for had barricaded himself, Sunrise police spokeswoman Otishia Browning-Smith said.

• The suspect opened fire, Special Agent in Charge George Piro said. Details about who fired first, or what led to the gunfire, weren’t immediately available.

• Alfin, 36, and Schwartzenberger, 43, were shot dead, the FBI said.

So that the wounded agents could be pulled away, a SWAT vehicle had to be crashed into the building to provide cover, a law enforcement source familiar with the shootout said on condition of anonymity.

Crime scene tape was still up Wednesday as FBI agents were still gathering evidence, and the entrance to the apartment complex where the shootout occurred was still being guarded by police.

Alfin’s work helped lead to hundreds of child pornography arrests

Alfin and Schwartzenberger worked at the FBI’s Miami office in a unit that investigates crimes against children. That involves crimes including online predators, sexual abuse, kidnappings and violent attacks.

Alfin, a New York native, had joined the FBI’s Albany office in 2009 before coming to the Miami office in 2017.

And he once played a critical role in an investigation that led to hundreds of child pornography arrests, the FBI has said. In that case, Alfin investigated an online network called Playpen, through which users could “communicate anonymously through ‘hidden service’ websites,” the FBI said in a May 2017 statement.

The investigation led to the arrest and conviction of the man who created the network in 2014 and a takedown of the site itself, the FBI said.

But it also launched “thousands of follow-up investigations,” becoming a case “unprecedented in its scope and reach,” the FBI said.

By May 2017, the investigation had resulted in the arrests of at least 350 people based in the US, the prosecutions of 25 producers of child pornography, the arrests of 51 “hands-on abusers” and the identification or rescue of 55 American children, the FBI said.

Abroad, the investigation led to 548 arrests and the identification or rescue of 296 sexually abused children, the FBI said.

“It’s the same with any criminal violation: As they get smarter, we adapt, we find them,” he said. “It’s a cat-and-mouse game, except it’s not a game. Kids are being abused, and it’s our job to stop that.”

According to federal court documents unrelated to the 2017 case, Alfin said he is “recognized as an expert in federal court in areas relating to computer forensics and the investigation of child exploitation crimes.”

The documents added that he had testified on more than 20 occasions as a witness, across more than 10 federal jurisdictions.

He was married with one child, the FBI said.

Schwartzenberger spent years working to keep kids safe

Schwartzenberger, a Colorado native, had been an agent since 2005 and moved to the Miami bureau from the FBI’s Albuquerque, New Mexico, office 11 years ago.

She worked on cases of crimes against children for more than seven years, the FBI said.

“As an FBI agent, Laura taught our students each year about the dangers of social media and much more. She would always say, ‘I feel that coming here and talking about the hard stuff means that I won’t see you guys on my end.’

“With her presentations, students would gain an awareness of online safety, cyberbullying, and experience the evidence response process of an FBI agent.

“She would always answer all the students’ questions directly with care, but with firmness, to always remind them of the real world.”

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho wrote that Schwartzenberger “sacrificed her life to protect youth.”

She is survived by her husband and two children.

On-duty deaths of FBI agents in shootings are rare

Tuesday’s shooting marks the first time since 2008 that an FBI agent was fatally shot on duty.

How FBI and other officials have reacted

President Joe Biden expressed his condolences to the families of the victims Tuesday.

“My heart aches for the families,” he said. “They put their lives on the line and it’s a hell of a price to pay.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Alfin and Schwartzenberger “exemplified heroism … in defense of their country.”‘

“The FBI will always honor their ultimate sacrifice and will be forever grateful for their bravery,” Wray said.

South Florida US Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan said the “tragic events remind us of the bravery of federal agents, who risk their lives to protect our communities and our country.”

“We must never forget that, just as we will never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by Special Agents Alfin and Schwartzenberger,” the US attorney’s statement reads.

The FBI Agents Association also offered condolences.

“These agents were working to protect the most vulnerable in our society. FBIAA stands with the agents’ families and pledges our support to them during this difficult time,” President Brian O’Hare said.