Palm Bay Police link 2024 triple shooting to possible past abuse by priest in report
Police link triple shooting to possible past abuse by priest
Police believe they have uncovered a possible motive behind the deadly triple shooting in Palm Bay one year ago. Investigators say 24-year-old Brandon Kapas murdered Father Robert Hoeffner, the priest’s sister, and his own grandfather before shooting two police officers. Kapas was then shot and killed by law enforcement.
What we know:
PALM BAY, Fla. - Police believe they have uncovered a possible motive behind the deadly triple shooting in Palm Bay one year ago.
Investigators say 24-year-old Brandon Kapas murdered Father Robert Hoeffner, the priest’s sister, and his own grandfather before shooting two police officers. Kapas was then shot and killed by law enforcement.
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At the time, officers could not determine a reason for the attack, but new reports suggest Kapas may have been sexually abused by Hoeffner, according to the Palm Bay Police Department. Officers said they discovered a folder at the priest’s home containing questionable notes, and a former classmate alleged that Hoeffner had inappropriately touched him, though he did not know if Kapas was also a victim.
What we don't know:
While the report indicates Kapas may have been abused, there is no direct confirmation that he was a victim of Hoeffner’s alleged misconduct. Kapas never spoke to his family about any past abuse.
It remains uncertain whether the discovered notes at Hoeffner’s home were written by him or someone else. The full extent of Hoeffner’s relationship with Kapas — and whether it directly influenced the shooting — has yet to be fully determined.
The backstory:
Kapas and Hoeffner first met when the priest worked at Kapas' Catholic school, and neighbors reported seeing Kapas at Hoeffner’s home on a weekly basis.
Police say Kapas texted Hoeffner the night before the shooting, warning him with cryptic messages such as, "You have woken up all of Egypt… Ancient ones know what you have done."
Father Bob Hoeffner
Kapas' family was unaware of any allegations of abuse but noted that Hoeffner’s relationship with him seemed unusual, with the priest reportedly buying him a vehicle and sharing a bank account.
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What they're saying:
David Little, a neighbor of Father Hoeffner, speculated that the motive "had something to do with the church."
"I think that’s where they’re going to find out where the possible motive might be," he said.
A former classmate recalled that Hoeffner would invite boys to his house to help with yard work but said he did not know if Kapas had been abused. Police noted in their report that "there were 46 white pages of handwritten notes consisting of stories of child sexual abuse" found at Hoeffner’s residence, raising further questions.
Diocese of Orlando's response:
FOX 35 News contacted the Diocese of Orlando for comment, and it replied with a statement:
"We continue to mourn with the Palm Bay community for the loss of these four lives and the officers who were wounded. We pray for all involved. We will not speculate about the motivation of the tragic events that occurred one year ago."
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Palm Bay Police Departments, neighbors of Father Robert Hoeffner, and the Diocese of Orlando.