BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Sheriff's deputy was recovering from gunshot wounds Wednesday after getting into a gun fight with a man who investigators said had been arguing with another man about feeding feral cats.

The incident happened Tuesday night, when the deputy arrived at a home on Avenida De La Vista in unincorporated Indialantic regarding a call about a dispute between neighbors over feeding feral cats.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the deputy saw two people arguing, and he told one person to go back into his home so he could speak with the other man, who seemed agitated.

That person then went behind a parked vehicle, and that's when Ivey said the deputy heard the sound of a rifle being loaded.

Gunfire erupted between the deputy and man. Ivey said the deputy went through all the rounds in his magazine, reloaded, and fired off more shots.

The deputy was struck several times, but still killed the gunman.

Another neighbor pulled the deputy to a driveway for cover before the deputy was taken to a hospital in serious condition and underwent surgery Wednesday.

"His statement to me was, 'I won.' And I could not be more proud of our deputy for his actions, for his tactical preparedness, and his ability to withstand someone shooting at him with a rifle," Ivey said.

Residents in the neighborhood said they found it hard to believe that an argument about feeding feral cats ended with a man dead.

"It's absolutely crazy, that's it's about a cat," said Pamela Leon, who said she saw the man shot dead each day at the gas station where she works, and that he seemed like a good guy. "You have a fight about a cat, and the next thing you know, you're dead.

"I hope to God it's not him," Leon said. "He's a good man, a hard working man."

"(There are) a lot of cats in the neighborhood," said Dave Powden, another neighbor. "I can't believe it's cats. I thought the shooting was about drugs, but can't believe it's about cats."

The Sheriff's Office has not released the identity of the deputy or gunman but said the deputy is an Army veteran who joined the agency last year.

As standard protocol, the deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation takes place.

Former deputy recalls own shooting

The shooting of the Brevard Sheriff's deputy resonates specifically with one man: a deputy shot in the line of duty almost four years ago.

It's been a long road to recovery for Casey Smith.

Smith had to step away from the department because of the injuries he incurred that night in 2015.

After hearing what happened Tuesday night, he said he's proud of the deputy's actions.

"You think it could happen, but you never expect it to happen," Smith said.

On August 20, 2015, Smith and two fellow investigators were in Port St. John in a prostitution sting when shots rang out.

"It has so many similarities to our case, because the guy (Tuesday night) just came out shooting," Smith said.

Like Smith, the deputy in the Indialantic disturbance call was shot several times. But unlike Smith, the deputy was able to return fire and kill the shooter.

Smith came back to the force briefly, but because of his injuries has not been able to return.

"I wish I could go back, because I would like to be right there with them," he said.

Smith praised the community for helping him and his family in their time of need, and he said the same community will come through for the deputy.

"Just stay strong," Smith said of the deputy. "He made us proud. I'm glad he won."