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Published on January 20, 2025
Fort Lauderdale Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting of Suspect After Traffic Stop EscalationSource: Google Street View

A man was fatally shot by a Fort Lauderdale police officer after a traffic stop escalated at a local gas station yesterday. The incident occurred when the suspect failed to stop his gray Mercedes for officers on the 100 block of SW 27th Avenue, subsequently pulling into a Chevron station on W Davie Boulevard. As reported by CBS News Miami, surveillance footage captured the initial pursuit followed by the fatal encounter.

After the vehicle came to a stop, the confrontation quickly escalated. "Preliminary investigation reveals the driver exited the vehicle with what appeared to be a firearm. One FLPD officer discharged his weapon during that time, striking the suspect," Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz explained in a statement. The injured man was then rushed to Broward Health Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave with pay, a standard practice in such situations, as detailed by CBS News Miami.

The identity of the man killed has not yet been released to the public. Neighbors in the area described hearing a series of loud gunshots. Kevin Forbes, a local resident, recounted to NBC 6 Miami the chilling moments, saying, "We were outside and we heard like about eight shots went off. Then we started hearing police cars and stuff.” Forbes continued, detailing the rapid succession of the shots: "Boom, boom, boom, boom, straight eight shots. No pausing nothing, just straight eight shots."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is slated to take over the ongoing investigation, as is routine in the aftermath of officer-involved shootings. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has yet to provide clarity on what specifically prompted the initial attempted traffic stop prior to the shooting. 

Miami-Crime & Emergencies