2 women, deputy dead after shooting rampage

A 55-year-old man shot four women Thursday, killing two, then killed a sheriff's captain in Dixie County, authorities said.

During a shootout with Dixie deputies, the suspect, John Kalisz, 55, was shot in the face and arrested.

The two women killed have been identified as 61-year-old Kathryn Donovan and Deborah Buckley Tillotson, 59, both of Brooksville.

Also shot were Amy Wilson, 33, of Hudson and 18-year-old Manessa Donovan, who is Kathryn Donovan's daughter. Both are listed in stable condition.

Wilson and Tillotson worked for Kathryn Donovan at her home-based business, the sheriff's office reported.

Kalisz called his brother in Clearwater and threatened to "take out as many deputies as possible," according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

"He has threatened to kill law enforcement," Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent said.

Dixie deputies were following the van in an unmarked van when he suddenly pulled into a BP gas station at U.S. 19 and County Road 351. During a shootout with deputies, Kalisz and Sheriff's Capt. Chad Reed were both shot, authorities said. Reed later died of his injuries.

Kalisz was taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville. His condition was not available.

Michael Grunberg, who lives four houses down from where the Brooksville shootings took place, said he frequently hears gunfire echo through his neighborhood because there is a lot of open land nearby. The shots he heard shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday were "much louder," he said.

"We have a neighbor moving in next door and I told him this is as peaceful a neighborhood as you can find," Grunberg said. "It's quiet, country living."

It was the second time Kalisz made the local news this week.

Kalisz accidentally set his house on fire Tuesday after he connected two propane tanks and tried to reignite the pilot light on his stove, firefighters said.

The snafu caused an explosion, but Kalisz was unharmed, according to a sheriff's report.

Kalisz, whose last known address was 138 Travel Park Drive in Spring Hill, also was found guilty in October for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to court records.

Central High School was put on lockdown after news spread of the shooting.

Kathryn Donovan owned ColorAnalysis.com and was an artist and teacher, according to the company's Web site.

A biography showed she once shared the last name of the suspect, though any relation was still uncertain late Thursday.

Kalisz's cousin, Lisa Torres, said Thursday night the family is "in shock."

Kalisz is a recovering alcoholic who has traveled the country and spoken at several Alcohol Anonymous meetings, Torres said.

He has been clean and sober for the last 20 years, she said.

"I don't know how this could've happened," she said.

Reed is survived by his wife, Holly, two young sons, and a large extended family. He has spent his entire career working for Dixie County, serving as a volunteer firefighter, paramedic, emergency services director and at the sheriff's office.