A Florida deputy shot and killed his ex-girlfriend following an argument over a television set before taking his own life on Monday.

The fatal domestic dispute began when Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy Troy Savetz, 47, confronted his former girlfriend at her home in Hudson, about 45 minutes north of Tampa. The victim and her two children, ages 9 and 12, found an armed Savetz in their front yard after returning from a beach trip. Authorities stated that Savetz and the victim had previously been in an on-again, off-again, “tumultuous” relationship.

When the victim attempted to call 911, Savetz took her phone. She then instructed her children to run inside the house to call for help. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the door was left open and the phone was found at the scene when responding officers arrived, but Savetz had already fled with the victim in a rental car.

Pasco deputies tried contacting Savetz by phone, but after multiple failed attempts, they launched a search. Investigators eventually located the vehicle in the 16800 block of Platinum Drive in Spring Hill, where both Savetz and the victim were found dead from gunshot wounds.

The victim's children were not physically harmed and have been placed in the care of their biological father. The victim's identity has not been released.

Savetz had been employed by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years, assigned to the marine unit, and previously served with the St. Louis Police Department.

In a statement posted by the Pasco Sheriff's Office, officials reported that around 5:35 p.m., deputies received initial reports of an aggravated assault, later updated to a kidnapping in the Phyllis Lane area of Hudson.

“The suspect, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Troy Savetz, was reported to have a gun and threatening a former girlfriend over a dispute about property,” the statement read. “Savetz left with the victim in a rental car prior to law enforcement’s arrival.”

During a joint news conference, sheriffs addressed the domestic dispute and praised the actions of the victim’s children.

“They went from the best day of their lives probably to the worst day of their lives,” Nocco said.

Addressing the victim’s children directly during the broadcast, Nocco said: “We listened to that 911 tape and we know that your mother said to go inside, save your lives and call 911. Your mom is looking down from heaven, and she is so proud of you. … You two did the right thing, you did exactly what your mom wanted you to do.”

He added, “Know this entire community is praying for you. Our arms are around you.”

Regarding Savetz’s position as an active law enforcement officer, Nocco told reporters, “The moment this individual committed a crime, he was no longer a law enforcement officer. He was a criminal.”

Nocco also noted, “He put those kids in harm’s way. There’s no reason why he did what he did".

Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, too, condemned the deputy’s conduct during the news conference.

“He was there because he wanted his TV set back,” Gualtieri told reporters. “This is an argument over a TV set. Obviously, it's deeper than that, but for that to spark him to decide he’s going to take his gun, kidnap her, shoot her and kill her and have her kids experience that over whatever relationship issues and the spark was a TV set. It's just horrible.”

Gualtieri added: “Mental health issues are a problem, but you don't kill somebody, and it's inexcusable.”