PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Four people were killed in a city on Florida\u2019s Space Coast, including a retired priest and a man accused of wounding two police officers during a shootout at a family birthday party, authorities confirmed Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brandon Kapas, 24, got into a confrontation with Palm Bay police officers Sunday afternoon following a disturbance at his family\u2019s home, police said. Kapas shot and wounded two officers while attempting to get away, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As additional officers were responding, Kapas allegedly shot and killed his grandfather, William Kapas, who was trying to intervene, police said. The other officers then fatally shot Brandon Kapas, police said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A relative had told officers that Kapas was armed, and investigators later found what they described as an arsenal, with multiple rifles and handguns, in a vehicle Kapas had been driving. Police didn\u2019t immediately know why Kapas had so many weapons and didn\u2019t immediately release a possible motive for the shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wounded officers were expected to recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat I can tell you is that our officers\u2019 actions yesterday prevented something even more tragic and devastating from happening,\u201d Chief Mariano Augello said during a news conference Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Detectives later found a retired priest and his sister dead at their home after tracking the registration of the car that Kapas had used, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police believe Robert Hoeffner, a retired priest with the St. Joseph Catholic Community, and his sister, Sally Hoeffner, were killed shortly before Kapas went to his grandfather\u2019s home for the birthday party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hoeffner retired in 2016 after serving at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Palm Bay detectives said they were trying to determine the connection between Kapas and his victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
State law enforcement officials will investigate the officer-involved shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palm Bay is located about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Orlando.<\/p>\n\n\n\n