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Memorials on display around Gilchrist County to honor slain deputies

TRENTON, Fla. — PHOTO GALLERY: Fallen deputies Noel Ramirez, Taylor Lindsey

PHOTO GALLERY: Tiny town of Trenton raises multiple Thin Blue Line flags

UPDATE, 3 p.m. Friday: A candlelight vigil will be held Friday night in Newberry to honor Sgt. Noel Ramirez & Deputy Taylor Lindsey.

The vigil is set for 8 p.m. at 1739 SW 248th Drive in Newberry.

Across Gilchrist County, people and businesses are showing support for the two slain deputies.

Trenton Animal Hospital displayed a sign that says, "Prayers for GCSO."

Outside of the Ace China restaurant, where the deputies were killed, a memorial including flowers and flags is growing.

The owners of Cherry's Seafood in Trenton put up Thin Blue Line flags to honor the memory of the deputies.

Essie Wilder, who has lived in Trenton since high school, said she never thought something so tragic would happen in her one traffic light community.

"The only thing we can do is pray. That's all we can do, is pray," she said.

UPDATE, 10:24 a.m. Friday: Officials now say the suspect went into the restaurant to ambush the two officers. It was originally reported that the gunman shot through the window of the Ace China restaurant.

Both deputies were on duty and in uniform. They were at the restaurant to eat a meal. No motive has been established, officials said.

There is no indication the officers were able to return fire. The gunman died from a self-inflicted wound.

"The Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office has no idea what drove this man to commit this cowardly act," officials said.

ORIGINAL STORY: Two Gilchrist County deputies were killed in a shooting in Trenton, Florida on Thursday, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office said the deputies were shot and killed in the Ace China restaurant in downtown Trenton at approximately 3 p.m.

A man, identified as 59-year-old John Hubert, had walked up to the restaurant and shot the deputies through the restaurant window.

The Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz said deputy Taylor Lindsey, 25, and Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 29, were killed in the shooting.

Lindsey had been with the sheriff's office for three years, and Ramirez had been with the office for seven years.

Authorities said deputies found Hubert outside of the business. The Sheriff's Office said they are working to determine the motives of the shooting.

Officials from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office had responded to the area.

LIVE: Update on deputies killed in Florida

The Gilchrist Sheriff's Office is hosting a briefing after two deputies were killed in a shooting in Trenton, Florida. LATEST: http://bit.ly/2F1pEwE

Posted by Action News Jax on Thursday, April 19, 2018

This is a developing story. Refresh this page, and follow @ActionNewsJax for the latest updates. 

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