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Final Farewell: Fallen Gilchrist County deputies laid to rest

Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey will be laid to rest today.

Sgt. Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey will be laid to rest today.

The two Gilchrist County deputies were shot to death Thursday afternoon while they were inside a Chinese restaurant in downtown Trenton, located 30 miles outside of Gainsville.

A public viewing will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday followed by a non-denominational service at 11 a.m. at Bell Middle/High School, 930 Main St., Bell, Fla.

Seating inside is limited and overflow listening and viewing will be on the football field.

Graveside honors will be at the Bronson Cemetery at State Road 24 and Marshburn Drive in Bronson.

Ramirez, 29, was a 7-year veteran of the force and leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Lindsey, 25, has served more than 3 years on the force.

"They gave their lives for everyone to be safe," said Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz. "...The world is full of cowards and the world is full of heroes. Tonight, we need to highlight the heroes."

The officers' killer, John Hubert Highnote, 59, who lived near the restaurant, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"These two heroes walked in there to have a meal together and they were ambushed," said Lt. Scott Tummond with the Levy County Sheriff's Office while speaking on behalf of the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office the day of the shooting.

Investigators have not released a motive leaving the small community grieving with lots of questions.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE KILLER

First Coast News talked to many people in the small town of Trenton, a town where everyone seems to know everyone.

However, it seems that no one knew Highnote.

When we spoke to one of his neighbors, she declined to go on camera, but said she was actively trying to find out more about him. She said she wasn't even able get get a glimpse of the man because he always parked in his carport and walked directly into his home.

Online records from Pinellas County show that Highnote was previously arrested for criminal mischief in 1994 and carrying a concealed firearm in 1978.

Other than that, he remains a mystery in this small tight-knit town.

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