FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - August 13, 2020 - According to an online news story published on Local10.com, a 32-year-old man has been arrested by Fort Lauderdale police for attempted murder. The man was arrested on Monday when witnesses to a shooting in Fort Lauderdale positively ID'd the 32-year-old man as the gunman. The 32-year-old man allegedly fired shots that struck an eleven-year-old boy and a woman.
The shooting occurred over the weekend, according to the news report. After the witnesses told law enforcement who the shooter was, Fort Lauderdale police were able to obtain an arrest warrant for the suspect. The suspect, a 32-year-old man from Plantation, Florida, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of attempted murder in the shooting incident.
The suspect is currently in jail and has not bonded out on his $100,000 bail bond. The Fort Lauderdale police stated that the investigation is still ongoing and the suspect could face additional criminal charges as their investigation continues.
The detectives also stated that the shooting happened when an altercation arose between two adult men that happened on Saturday at approximately 6:40 p.m. close to the Broward Metro Transit Center located off of 50 NW First Street in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fort Lauderdale police allege that a third man, a 60-year-old man from Lauderhill, Florida, left the scene to retrieve a gun from his motor vehicle, and then the 60-year-old Lauderhill man and gave the gun to the 32-year-old Plantation man who was in the argument.
The new report alleges that the 32-year-old Plantation man took the gun, and he began to fire that gun. Stray bullets from the incident unintentionally hit the boy and the woman walking near the area of the argument, according to Fort Lauderdale police. The Fort Lauderdale police stated that the victims were not related, and the two victims are in stable condition at Broward Health Medical Center. The boy's mother gave a medical report about her son stating that bullets hit her boy, one in his liver and another in his kidney. The mother stated that one bullet is still "lodged inside" of the boy.
The 60-year-old Lauderhill man also faces felony charges. He was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. Fort Lauderdale police stated that the 60-year-old Lauderhill man admitted to police that he possessed the gun and gave the gun to the shooter once he was identified by an eyewitness.
The mother stated that she was happy with what the judge stated and how the judge didn't want the suspect back out on the street because her son is "terrified." The mother's statements came after she attended the shooter's bond hearing on Tuesday morning. A GoFundMe page was created to help the boy's single mom who does not have a motor vehicle and relies solely on ride-sharing services to visit her child, who remains at the Broward Health Medical Center.