Boynton Beach was the scene of a fatal police shooting yesterday when a domestic dispute call escalated after police encountered an individual armed with a machete. The incident, occurring near Intracoastal Park on the 600 block of Northeast 20th Lane, resulted in the death of a man after law enforcement officers opened fire. WPBF reports that the call came in around 10:45 a.m., and investigations by Florida Department of Law Enforcement are currently active.
Earlier in the day, a father had dialed 911 to express concerns about his son who was possibly suffering from mental health issues or was under the influence of drugs, and stated that his son was armed with a knife. When Boynton Beach Police arrived, they found the man carrying a machete. "During the confrontation multiple officers opened fire and the son was shot," according to the Boynton Beach Police Department. This information was detailed by CBS12.
Life-saving measures were attempted by officers immediately after the shooting, but the man was pronounced deceased after being transported to an area hospital. As a result of the incident, the stretch of northbound Federal Highway from Harvey E. Oyer Park to Gateway Boulevard was temporarily shut down, but has since been reopened to the public.
The identity of the man has not been released at the time of this report. The Boynton Beach Police Department has confirmed that an officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, which is a standard department policy following such incidents. The park near the scene of the shooting was closed following the incident, but was expected to reopen once cleared by authorities.
