By Meagan Perle
For Hometown News
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -- An Indian River County man faces two counts of attempted murder and one count of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer for threatening two occupants of a home and a deputy with a shotgun.
Christopher Berk was released from Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce on Jan. 26. He was shot three times by an Indian River County Sheriff's deputy who answered a domestic violence call in the 400 block of 20th Place SW in south Indian River County on Jan. 21.
At press time, he remained in the medical unit of the Indian River County Jail. No bond has been set.
The deputy, whose name has not yet been released, was on the scene of the disturbance interviewing the complainant and witnesses when Mr. Berk, 26, approached them carrying a shotgun.
"The suspect was in a physical altercation with his wife and another person at the residence and left when police were called," said Thomas Raulen, sheriff's public information officer.
The deputy ordered Mr. Berk to drop the weapon, but he stood behind a car and raised the gun toward the deputy and bystanders.
The officer fired six shots at Mr. Berk and ended up striking him three times: once in the upper leg, once in the abdomen and once in the arm.
After the scene was deemed secure, back-up deputies provided first aid to Mr. Berk and he was transported to the medical center in Fort Pierce where he underwent surgery for his injuries.
The deputy is on non-disciplinary administrative leave while the case is being investigated, which is customary.
Mr. Berk, who was also carrying a backpack with 50 rounds of shotgun ammunition, was also charged with one count of domestic violence battery and one county of battery.
He is being held without bond and will be transported to the Indian River County jail upon release from the hospital.
This is Indian River County's first deputy-involved shooting in more than a year.