TAMARAC, Fla. — Six months after a man fatally shot his estranged wife, her father and a neighbor in Tamarac, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has concluded an internal investigation that found widespread failures in both the months leading up to the killings and during the critical moments of the active-shooter response, WLRN reported.
Eight deputies have been fired and 11 others disciplined in connection to the agency’s handling of the case involving Mary Gingles, 34, who was killed alongside her father, David Ponzer, 64, and neighbor Andrew Ferrin, 36, on Feb. 16, 2025. Her estranged husband, Nathan Gingles, has been charged with all three murders and has pleaded not guilty, according to the report.
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The 246-page internal affairs report, obtained by WLRN, details repeated missed warnings and failures in protocol that Sheriff Gregory Tony says directly contributed to Mary’s death.
“We had multiple opportunities to protect Mary during the months preceding her death when she alerted us to the domestic violence she was experiencing,” Tony said in a statement.
Investigation timeline
- Feb. 9, 2024: Mary called BSO to enforce a temporary restraining order. Deputies confiscated Nathan’s large cache of firearms.
- Feb. 10, 2024: Deputy Daniel Lovallo documented Mary’s fear of Nathan but failed to open a domestic violence investigation, later saying he had “no proof.” He was suspended for 10 days.
- July 9, 2024: Mary agreed to drop the restraining order in exchange for exclusive possession of the house. Nathan’s guns were returned a month later.
- Oct. 29, 2024: Mary reported finding a tracking device on her car. It was never collected as evidence. Sgt. Travis Allen, later fired, failed to follow up, documents state.
- Nov.–Dec. 2024: The tracker case was mishandled by Detective Brittany King, Deputy Raul Ortiz, and Sgt. Devoune Williams, documents state. The device was never analyzed. King and Williams were fired; Ortiz and another detective were disciplined.
- Dec. 27, 2024: Mary saw Nathan on her security camera leaving a suspicious backpack in her garage. It contained duct tape, zip ties, gloves and plastic wrap. Deputy Daniel Munoz responded but did not seize the backpack. He was later fired.
- Dec. 30, 2024: Mary filed for another domestic violence injunction, warning that Nathan would likely try to kill her before their lease ended in February. A temporary order was granted. Despite urgent calls, detectives failed to act on the tracker or the “kill kit” backpack. Multiple deputies, including King and Detective Illany Ceballos, met with Mary but never collected key evidence.
- Jan. 23, 2025: A prosecutor rejected King’s request for a search warrant, citing a lack of evidence. She resubmitted a revised version but did not follow up. No action was taken before the killings.
The day of the murders
- Feb. 16, 2025, 5:39 a.m.: Nathan arrived at Mary’s home.
- Around 6 a.m.: He fatally shot Mary’s father, Ponzer, on the back patio and chased Mary and their daughter through the neighborhood.
- 6:01 a.m.: First 911 call reporting gunfire. Sgt. Travis Allen directed deputies to a rallying point about a half-mile away from the scene, violating BSO’s active shooter policy and delaying their response as more 911 calls reported gunfire and screaming.
- 6:06–6:12 a.m.: Five deputies, including Allen and Deputy Lemar Blackwood, waited nearby as additional 911 calls reported more gunshots and screaming.
- 6:07–6:08 a.m.: Mary fled to Ferrin’s house. Nathan followed and fatally shot them both.
Moments later, Allen saw Nathan walking barefoot with their child and failed to stop him, later saying the encounter “did not register enough” to act.
An Amber Alert was issued hours later. Nathan was arrested at a Walmart in North Lauderdale with his daughter.
Aftermath and accountability
BSO has now:
- Fired 8 deputies, including Sgt. Allen, Deputy Munoz, Detective King, Sgt. Williams, and others for failure to respond to active shooter protocol or for ignoring key evidence.
- Disciplined 11 others, including suspensions and demotions.
- Acknowledged systemic failures in training, supervision and response.
“I can train you, I can supply you, I can give you all the tools to be successful,” Tony said at a press conference announcing the investigation. “What I can’t coach is courage and effort.”
Dan Rakofsky, president of IUPA 6020, which represents BSO deputies and sergeants, said he was “disappointed” with the outcome, calling it a “predetermined” investigation. He argued that the findings highlight deeper systemic problems within the agency.
