The family of a 19-year-old man accused of killing two Martin County residents Monday night released a statement Friday.
RELATED: More coverage of the case
John Joseph Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Karen Mishcon, 53, were killed in the attack. A neighbor, Jeffrey Fisher, was also injured trying to stop the incident.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office said Friday the suspect in the attack, Austin Harrouff, will immediately be arrested and charged in the case once he is released from the hospital. He is still listed in stable but critical condition.
Charges Harrouff will face include:
- First-degree murder in the death of Mishcon
- First-degree murder in the death of Stevens
- Attempted first-degree murder in the attempted killing of Fisher
- Burglary of a dwelling while armed
- Resisting an officer without violence
Below is the full statement from the Harrouff family:
The Harrouff family expresses their deepest sympathy for the pain and suffering caused by Austin Harrouff.
The Harrouff family loves Austin as they know the Stevens and Mischon families loved John Stevens III and Michelle Mischon. There are no words we can offer to give any real comfort for this tragic loss.
There are no words we can offer that we can make up for the injury sustained by Jeff Fisher who is doing what we would want all good neighbors to do which was to try to help innocent people from being hurt or killed.
We love our son and know that he is not the person some are making him to be for their own purposes. We will allow the full legal process to find the full facts and the truth here.
While we respect the freedom of the press, we would ask the media to respect our own privacy at this very difficult time.
Toxicology Report Not Completed
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said Friday they requested the assistance of the FBI Lab at Quantico, Va., to lead the testing of Harrouff's blood for toxicology.
The toxicology report has not been completed and results are not yet available.
Fisher was released from the hospital Thursday and at home resting with his family.
