Fort Lauderdale police say a monthslong search is over after arresting 27-year-old John Moss on Thursday in connection with a December shooting that left a man badly wounded near downtown.
Investigators allege Moss is the shooter in a Dec. 9 incident where a man was found on the street with multiple gunshot wounds and rushed to Broward Health Medical Center in serious condition. Moss is charged with one count of attempted homicide without premeditation, according to Local 10.
The arrest report states that Moss himself called 911 after the confrontation. Once officers read him his rights, he told detectives he fired two rounds at a vehicle because he feared for his safety, Local 10 reports.
How Florida's Stand-Your-Ground Law Could Factor In
Florida's stand-your-ground law can give someone criminal immunity if prosecutors and a judge find the person used deadly force in justified self-defense. State statutes say a person who lawfully uses force in self-defense may be immune from prosecution, and officers are not supposed to make an arrest unless they have probable cause the force was unlawful, according to the Florida Legislature.
Police Version of the December Street Confrontation
Officers were first sent to the 1100 block of Northeast 15th Street just before 9:20 p.m. on Dec. 9 for a reported domestic disturbance. While in the area, police were flagged down near the 400 block of Northeast 13th Street by a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, as reported by Local 10.
The victim told investigators the argument started at his door. He said that after he got into his car, he spotted Moss nearby and claimed Moss fired three shots at him, according to Local 10.
What Comes Next in the Case
Moss was being held at the Broward Main Jail on a $75,000 bond as of Friday afternoon on a single count of attempted homicide without premeditation. His case is expected to move through Broward County courts, where any stand-your-ground claim would require prosecutors and a judge to weigh the immunity rules laid out in the Florida Legislature's statutes.
