Armed suspect killed after pointing gun at Florida deputies during chase, sheriff says
WFOR
By S.E. Jenkins, Morgan Rynor, Abby Dodge
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BROWARD COUNTY, Florida (WFOR) — The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting involving its deputies that left an armed suspect dead Monday night after authorities say he fled from deputies, refused repeated commands to drop his weapon and attempted to point a gun at law enforcement in Davie.
The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. near the 6300 block of Stirling Road. The investigation stretched across multiple blocks, from a Wawa gas station to a nearby McDonald’s, where the confrontation ended.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, members of its fugitive and gang unit approached the suspect while he was pumping gas at the Wawa on Stirling Road.
Sheriff Gregory Tony said deputies were attempting to arrest the man on an outstanding warrant. Investigators said the suspect had previously fled from police and was linked to other crimes through DNA evidence.
Authorities said the suspect ran from deputies while carrying a firearm. Deputies caught up to him and tackled him in the McDonald’s parking lot, but investigators said he resisted arrest and officers were unable to take the gun from him.
Sheriff Tony said deputies then conducted a tactical retreat while repeatedly ordering the suspect to drop the weapon.
“Given a multitude of commands to let go of the firearm, the officers probably spent over a minute and 15 seconds, from my account of looking at the BWC, just trying to get the individual to let the firearm go,” Tony said.
According to investigators, the suspect then attempted to point the firearm at deputies, prompting officers to open fire.
“At that point in time, he looked and attempted to point the firearm at them, and they engaged him,” Tony said.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released his identity.
Officials said six BSO deputies and one Plantation police officer fired their weapons during the shooting. Tony said no bystanders were injured and the deputies involved suffered only minor cuts and scrapes.
One witness who asked not to be identified said she heard about 20 gunshots before seeing a large police response.
“I started seeing cops come,” she said. “There were undercovers, cops, helicopters.”
Investigators are still working to determine whether the suspect fired any shots at deputies.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting involving BSO deputies, which is standard procedure whenever law enforcement officers use deadly force in Florida.
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