It was supposed to be a routine service — the kind of duty Deputy Brandon Sekes had carried out countless times before. But April 26th turned into a day Columbia County will never forget, marking a tragedy that no one could have anticipated.

It was supposed to be a routine service — the kind of duty Deputy Brandon Sekes had carried out countless times before. But April 26th turned into a day Columbia County will never forget, marking a tragedy that no one could have anticipated.

Around 6:30 p.m., Deputy Sekes approached a residence to serve a protective order to James Blake Montgomery. What should have been a straightforward interaction escalated into chaos without warning. Bullets exploded out of nowhere. In a devastating moment, one of them struck Deputy Sekes as he carried out his sworn duty to protect and serve.

The shots rang out near Exit 194, a place that, for many, had simply been another ordinary stretch of road. But that evening, it became the site of heartbreak. Fellow deputies, brothers and sisters in uniform, rushed to his side, fighting desperately to save him right there on the highway. Strangers pulled over. Emergency responders flooded the scene. There was no hesitation, no giving up — but despite their heroic efforts, it was too late.

Deputy Brandon Sekes’ end was sudden, violent, and profoundly unfair. He leaves behind a family now facing an unimaginable loss, fellow deputies who mourn the absence of one of their own, and a community grappling with the heavy silence left in his place. His death leaves a gaping hole in the heart of Columbia County — a hole that can never truly be filled.

Brandon wasn’t just a deputy. He was a friend, a protector, a person who had dedicated his life to standing in the gap between danger and safety. His uniform was not just something he wore; it was something he lived for — a daily choice to show up, no matter the risk. And in the end, he made the ultimate sacrifice.

The pain ripples far beyond the Sheriff’s Office walls. It touches every hand he shook at a community event, every child he waved to from a patrol car, every family he protected without them even knowing it.

Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to Deputy Sekes’ family, loved ones, and all who were honored to know him. His legacy of service, courage, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Tonight, Columbia County grieves. We remember a hero who didn’t make it home.

Rest in peace, Deputy Brandon Sekes. Your watch is over, but your memory lives on.

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