Two Florida deputies were shot and wounded in an ambush Thursday after tracking down a man accused of taking his ex-girlfriend hostage overnight.

"The hand of God was with our deputies today, I can’t underscore enough the severity of this ambush, this suspect was intent on killing our deputies," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated in a social media post about the shooting.

During an afternoon press conference, Chronister said a woman had asked the agency for an order of protection against her ex-boyfriend, identified as Chris Dmuchowski, after he held her hostage in her home. The woman told deputies that Dmuchowski held her at gunpoint and threatened to kill her Wednesday as he tied her up and gagged her.

The following day, the woman was able to escape her home by telling Dmuchowski she had an appointment. 

"Fortunate for all of us, he allowed her to leave the residence at this time," Chronister said. "Make no mistake about it: She was a hostage. She was held captive all night long."

The woman then went to the agency's district office to request an order of protection. After talking with her, deputies were able to locate Dmuchowski at a home in Ruskin.

A drone was deployed to provide surveillance, and Dmuchowski was seen leaving the house and heading to a parking lot.

"(Deputies) begin to move in as they identify, 'Hey, this is our suspect, this is our bad guy. Let's go take him into custody,'" Chronister said.

The first responding deputy pulled up next to Dmuchowski, who was in a van. Immediately, the suspect opened a side door, punched through the cruiser's window and began shooting at the deputy.

Several rounds struck the cruiser, and the deputy was shot in the face. As the deputy fell to the ground, another deputy arrived at the scene, and Dmuchowski opened fire at him.

The second deputy was struck in the neck while he was still in his cruiser and unable to get out of the car. A third deputy—who Chronister said he couldn't commend enough—was able to take a tactical position and shoot Dmuchowski multiple times.

The wounded deputies were airlifted to a Tampa hospital for treatment. Dmuchowski also was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The deputy who fatally shot Dmuchowski was identified as Sgt. Harrison Bashner. He has 27 years of law enforcement experience, and Chronister praised his actions.

"Our suspect's reign of terror ended today because of the training, the bravery and heroic actions of each of these deputies," the sheriff said.