An apparent drive-by shooting in Fort Lauderdale has left one person dead and four others critically injured on Friday evening, according to local authorities. The incident occurred around 7:10 p.m. in the 2300 block of Northwest 8th Street, where Fort Lauderdale Police found five adult male victims suffering from gunshot wounds. As NBC Miami reports, these individuals were transported to Broward Health Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, one of whom was pronounced dead shortly after.
In the immediate aftermath, there was a significant police presence, with at least a dozen police cruisers on site. While investigating, officers had put several blocks on lock-down, trying to piece together the events that had occurred. Running scared after hearing about 40 shots fired, one woman expressed her shock to NBC Miami, "I jumped up and ran that way, what the hell I was supposed to stay right here, I don't know where I was going, but I was getting the hell out of here," she said.
The investigation is still in progress as detectives are calling on the community for cooperation to gather more information regarding the suspects. According to CBS News Miami, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-5581 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 957-493-TIPS (8477).
Residents of the Franklin Park community, where the shooting took place, are lamenting the escalation of violence. One woman, having known the victims, told NBC Miami, "It is hurtful, because it's people that you know. We get tired of crying, they don't have to be family to love a person, it's sad." She added her desire for peace in the community, emphasizing, "Let's all get along."
