Bodycam: Vest Saves Fla. Deputy After Ambush Stabbing Attack

"I should have killed you," a suspect said after repeatedly stabbing a Marion County sheriff's deputy in an ambush while he responded to a call.
May 15, 2026
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  • A Marion County sheriff's deputy was ambushed and repeatedly stabbed while responding to a suspicious person call, and the attack was captured on body camera footage.
  • The suspect knocked the deputy to the ground and stabbed him multiple times before fleeing, but the deputy’s ballistic vest prevented serious injury.
  • The suspect later surrendered, was charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and is being held without bond.

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A Florida deputy was repeatedly stabbed by a suspect who ambushed him during a call Wednesday. The attack was captured on the deputy's body camera.

The incident happened at around 5 p.m. when Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Fitch was responding to a call in Dunnellon about a suspicious person, the agency stated in a news release. When Fitch arrived at the scene and got out of his cruiser, a man, later identified as Heriberto Medina Marquez, immediately attacked him.

Fitch was knocked to the ground, and Medina Marquez got on top of the deputy and stabbed him multiple times before fleeing into a wooded area. Fortunately, Fitch wasn't seriously injured in the ambush.

"Deputy Fitch sustained minor injuries during the attack, his bulletproof vest saved his life," the sheriff's office stated.

Other deputies responded to the call, and Medina Marquez surrendered. After he was taken into custody, he told deputies: “I should have killed you, you know that right.”

Medina Marquez was arrested and charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. He is being held without bond.

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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