House of Gilchrist County gunman burns down

GILCHRIST COUNTY, Fla. (WOGX FOX 51) - Gilchrist County firefighters on Thursday put out a fire at the home of a man who killed two sheriff’s deputies last month.

County tax records show the house belonged to John Highnote, the man who gunned down two Gilchrist county deputies. One of his neighbors remembers when that happened.

“Oh my, it was overwhelming,” the neighbor recalled, “I guess you'd say I was just numb.”

On Thursday night, Highnote's house burned to the ground. When firefighters showed up, they said the place was engulfed in flames. Firefighters say no one was living here when the fire happened. Neighbors are left struggling to figure it all out.

“It's sad, you know,” said Highnote’s neighbor, “the house hadn't done anything, just 'cause the house was there... just didn't make any sense.”

Highnote ambushed Sgt. Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey as they ate lunch, last month. After that, the sheriff's office says Highnote went to his car and shot himself. His neighbor in this rural community says she had no idea he lived just down the street.

“I didn't know he lived there,” she admitted, “I didn't know him. But just to know someone had that much hate, I can't comprehend that.”

Firefighters said the fire started in the garage, where a car was parked, and still had electricity. They said no one was hurt in the fire, and it's still under investigation.