Wife shot, SWAT team kills husband in Palm Bay

A Palm Bay man, who was paralyzed from a drive-by shooting three years ago, shot his wife multiple times  before she was rescued by police, authorities say.

Police say a 911 call came from Amy Newman, who was locked inside the bathroom of the couple's home on Lockheed Street, at 7:17 on Tuesday evening.  She reported her husband, 43-year-old DeMarco Newman, was trying to get in while armed with a handgun and making threats to kill her.  Then the phone went dead.

Police say they arrived seven minutes later, but they did not hear or see any evidence of gunfire. After several hours of negotiating, the police SWAT team broke through the front door to send a robot in, when they heard screams for help from Newman's wife.

"She said that she had been shot and cannot move," said Palm Bay Police Chief Mark Renkens. Renkens said she then said her husband, DeMarco, is in the bathroom with her and he is armed.

With the victim claiming she was fading in and out of consciousness, Palm Bay's SWAT team stormed the home to rescue her. Police say 15-year veteran Tom Ribnicky shot Newman, who was armed and in a wheelchair.

"Unfortunately, during that lifesaving effort we were able to extract her," said Palm Bay Police Commander John Resh. "The suspect was then shot and killed because he was armed and posed a threat to the team" said Resh.

Ribnicky is on paid administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the shooting. Newman's wife, Amy is in the hospital and expected to survive her injuries.

DeMarco Newman was the victim of a drive-by shooting in 2013. At the time, his wife started a Go Fund Me page to raise money for his medical bills.  Newman was paralyzed from the chest down.