Sailor visiting from Georgia shot while breaking up fight

Anthon Adams, 29, listed in critical condition

NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Navy sailor from Georgia who was visiting family in South Florida was shot Thursday night while trying to break up a fight.

The shooting occurred outside an apartment building at 7491 NW 10th Court in North Lauderdale about 8:30 p.m.

Broward Sheriff's Office deputies said the sailor, identified as Anthon Adams, 29, was shot multiple times.

According to Adams' mother, Sandra Adams, she had just moved into the apartment complex a couple of weeks ago with her fiance.

On Friday, she told Local 10 News reporter John Turchin that her son, who had just finished his second tour with the Navy, was shot at least three times, one of which hit his femoral artery.

According to doctors, once the femoral artery is severed, a person often bleeds out in a matter of seconds.

Sandra Adams said her son was hanging out on the steps with his two daughters, ages 8 and 9, when he tried to break up a fight between three men at the bottom of the stairs.

"The kids came in screaming," said Sandra Adams. "I was like 'What happened?' and they like, 'Somebody shot my daddy. My daddy. They shot him and he's dead.'"

"I was right here and I just fell. And my daughter took my phone and she called 911."

Sandra Adams said she watched as relatives gave Anthon CPR until police arrived.

Deputies said Anthon Adams was shot by at least one of the men involved in the fight. He was taken to Broward Health North where he remains in critical but stable condition. His mother said doctors are still monitoring his blood loss continuously. 

Sandra Adams said Anthon is her first child, and the eldest of five. She said it's not in his nature to jump into the middle of a fight, but believes he did so due to his military training.

Anthon's wife was at the hospital Friday afternoon at his side. She lives with him in Georgia.

Sandra Adams told Local 10 Anthon is moving now and has opened his eyes.

Anthon, who is a sonar tech in the Navy and works on a submarine, had just returned from a five-month deployment in Diego Garcia -- a remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Deputies are still searching for the gunman.

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About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.