A Fort Lauderdale Police officer was shot Thursday morning at a local hotel, following a call from a man claiming to have committed a murder, said Police Chief Bill Schultz. The shootout at the Holiday Inn Express, 1500 SE 17th St., ended with the officer wounded and the suspect deceased. The suspect has been identified as 46-year-old Karl Chludinsky of Margate, reported Local 10 News.
The incident unfolded shortly after 7:30 a.m. when Officers attempted to absolutely ensure the safety of those inside the hotel, swiftly entering the room where Chludinsky had barricaded himself. A gunfire exchange occurred, resulting in the officer's injury and Chludinsky's death by the time SWAT officers entered the room, as confirmed by Police spokesperson Casey Liening. The injured officer, now released from the Broward Health Medical Center, is expected to make a complete recovery. A second officer also sustained minor injuries during the incident but was not shot, according to Local 10 News.
Earlier run-ins with law enforcement came to light as records showed Chludinsky was the subject of a risk protection order in 2022, with an order to surrender his firearms. After undergoing mental health treatment, the order expired, and it appeared he was able to recover access to his firearms roughly a year later, NBC6 sources indicated. The massive police response to the shooting rattled hotel guests and springbreakers, many of whom were ushered to safety, with evidence of the violent encounter marked by multiple bullet holes in a hotel room's window.
As standard department policy, the three officers who returned fire have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Guests described chaotic scenes, with one, Luis Castaneda, recounting, "One of the staff members, there was a lot of people, she was Iike 'get into this conference room,' they locked it and turned the light off, we don’t know what’s going on," in an interview obtained by NBC6. The incident, having taken place among a popular tourist zone, caused significant disruptions including traffic diversions, although efforts were underway to minimize the impact and reopen affected roadways as soon as possible.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with authorities announcing no current threat to the community. Efforts to reach Chludinsky's family were unsuccessful, while neighbors described him as depressed following a recent divorce, according to Local 10 News.
