The two were murdered in an apartment complex that was carrying out a federal search warrant. Three other officers were injured, two of whom were taken to hospital and have since been released. The suspect in the shooting died on the spot, and the FBI has said the investigation is ongoing.
The officers were known for their exemplary efforts in the field, countering child abuse with their investigative work, and educating students about the dangers of sex crimes.
“Our chosen profession is fraught with danger. Today, this grim reality has robbed our family of two of our best,” said Piro.
Alfin played a key role in an ‘unprecedented’ investigation into child exploitation
Alfin, 36, was born in New York and began his FBI career in the Albany, New York office in 2009. He was assigned to the Miami office in 2017 to investigate crimes against children.
According to federal court documents, Alfin said he was “recognized as an expert in federal court on computer forensics and the investigation of child exploitation crimes.”
The documents added that he had testified more than 20 times, in more than 10 federal jurisdictions.
Alfin was instrumental in a large-scale investigation that led to hundreds of child pornography arrests, according to a 2017 FBI statement.
Officials stated at the time, “The case – and the thousands of follow-up investigations launched on it – is unprecedented in size and reach.”
The case involved “Playpen”, described by authorities as a “highly sophisticated global enterprise dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children, organized through a members-only website on the dark web.”
Alfin and his team’s investigation resulted in the arrests of at least 350 US-based people, the prosecution of 25 child pornography producers, 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.
“The same goes for any criminal offense: as they get smarter, we adapt and find them,” he said. “It’s a game of cat and mouse, except it’s not a game. Children are being abused and it is our job to stop that. ‘
In 2018, Alfin was honored as part of the team involved in the case, and then Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein spoke warmly about the award recipients.
“The first ones today deserved the appreciation of their peers. Most importantly, they deserved the gratitude of our fellow citizens – the people whose communities you have made safer, whose lives you have improved, and whose trust you have rewarded. to honor and recognize a small part of your work, ”said Rosenstein.
Alfin is survived by his wife and a child, the FBI said.
Schwartzenberger worked with school children to keep them safe
Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Schwartzenberger joined the FBI in 2005 and was assigned to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office. According to the agency, she has served in the Miami office since 2010.
She worked on crimes against children for more than seven years, the FBI said.
“It’s very traumatizing for the victim,” Schwartzenberger told WPEC. “Their reputation is at stake.”
This form of blackmail by criminals includes “instances where they hacked the victim’s computer and hacked the person’s camera. That’s where they got images or videos,” she said.
Schwartzenberger worked in the community to educate schoolchildren about how to protect themselves and others online, as noted by Alberto Carvalho, the Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
As an FBI agent, Laura taught our students every year about the dangers of social media and a lot more. She used to say, ‘I feel that when I come here and talk about the difficult things, I won’t end you guys.’
Her presentations would make students aware of online safety and cyberbullying, and experience the evidence response process of an FBI agent.
“She always answered all of the students’ questions directly with care, but with determination, to always remind them of the real world.”
She is survived by her husband and two children, the FBI said.
“Laura was a light in this world. A true warrior, a longtime CrossFitter, a wise woman, wonderful mother and loved by our CrossFit VICE community,” the organizer said on the page.
A community in shock
The tape from the crime scene where the shooting took place was still on the market Wednesday when agents gathered additional evidence. The entrance to the complex was guarded by the police.
Full details of what happened remain unknown at this time, but according to the FBI Agents Association, it has been revealed that the search warrant was linked to suspected possession of child pornography.
The suspect had barricaded himself in his home, according to Sunrise police. It is not yet known the exact circumstances that led to the gunfight, which, according to the FBI, resulted in the deaths of Alfin and Schwartzenberger by the suspect in shootings.
To safely retrieve the other injured officers, a SWAT vehicle had to be crashed into the building to provide cover, a law enforcement source familiar with the shooting said on condition of anonymity.
Some local residents, including Jorge Castillo, were incredulous that the murders took place so close to their homes. Castillo has lived in the complex for five years, alongside families with children and police officers, he said.
The 76-year-old found the scene alarming. “We are concerned,” said Castillo, noting that authorities continued to discourage residents from leaving their homes and going through the complex.
William Beller, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association’s local section president, told CNN on Wednesday that the association supports agents who still work at the crime scene, as well as caring for the families of Alfin and Schwartzenberger.
Just outside the apartment complex where the shooting took place, he and his colleague had brought lunch to the police who worked on the spot. He said the leftovers would be donated to a local shelter because it was difficult for everyone.
When CNN asked how the families were doing, his voice trembled as he said, “The families are mourning.”
He added, “We are all siblings in law enforcement.” Overwhelmed with emotion, he said, “I only know that today I was able to hug my children,” and walked away in tears.
CNN’s Rosa Flores, Sara Weisfeldt, Jason Hanna, Amanda Watts, Shawn Nottingham, Jamiel Lynch and Christina Carrega contributed to this report.