A man who punched a Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy in a West Park neighborhood was taken to the hospital after, authorities said, one deputy was forced to open fire.
Witnesses who spoke with 7News on Sunday afternoon described what unfolded in their neighborhood with one word.
“Chaos, and it happened so fast. It happened, like, in an instant,” said an area resident who identified herself as M.
BSO deputies responded to a report of a suspicious incident involving a weapon in the area of Southwest 26th Street and 40th Avenue, just before 12:30 p.m.
Moments later, investigators said, the subject hit a deputy in the face.
“During the altercation, a deputy was forced to fire their weapon in response to the ongoing threat. The adult male subject was struck by the gunfire,” said BSO spokesperson Carey Codd.
M said she saw the tense moments unfold from across the street. She said she heard a woman yelling hysterically, then saw a deputy arrive.
“I see him jump out of his car, and he runs inside the yard, and he goes out of view for a little bit and, before you know it, he jumps back into view where I can see him from, and I see him with his gun up, and bullets start ringing after that,” she said.
M said she heard at least eight gunshots, and she told 7News that the deputy was alone.
After shots rang out, M said, more deputies began responding to the scene.
“Just to witness that with your children, it’s kind of like – I’m shaking now, just thinking of what happened,” she said.
JR, who leaves behind where the shooting happened, said he heard the same thing.
“I heard a lady hollering and screaming ‘no, no, no.’ All of a sudden, I heard the shots, ‘pow, pow, pow, pow, pow pow, pow,’” he said.
Deputies at the scene began administering lifesaving measures to the man before paramedics with Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Someone who identified themselves as a family member of the subject told 7News he is 23 years old. The patient’s condition is currently unknown.
The deputy who was punched was also taken to a local hospital for treatment and is expected to be OK, officials said.
BSO investigators were seen gathering evidence and talking to witnesses to piece together what led up to the shooting.
“I pray for those that were involved,” said M.
As of late Sunday night, authorities have not specified whether or not the deputy who was punched was the one who opened fire, and they haven’t specified how many times the man was shot.
Authorities remained at the scene for nearly 10 hours. Deputies shut down a portion of Southwest 26th Street while they investigated, but it has since reopened.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deputy’s use of force, and BSO Internal Affairs will conduct an internal review.
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Source: wsvn
