Man chased, shot ex-wife in Deerfield Beach, deputies say

Deputies: 67-year-old man shot after raising gun in direction of deputies at Century Village

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Deputies were forced to shoot a man who chased his ex-wife with a gun throughout the Century Village retirement community and shot her, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

The deputy-involved shooting was reported about 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Deerfield Beach.

Deputies said Richard Sanfratello, 67, forced himself into Linda Sanfratello's apartment. The couple recently divorced and both lived in separate units, according to the BSO.

Deputies said Linda Sanfratello, 64, then ran from her apartment to her brother-in-law's apartment nearby. That's when Richard Sanfratello began shooting at his ex-wife multiple times.

Linda Sanfratello made it inside the apartment. Deputies said Richard Sanfratello again forced his way into that family member's apartment, assaulted him and captured his ex-wife at gunpoint.

"Once the deputies arrived on scene he was forcibly holding the victim," said BSO spokeswoman Gina Carter. "He was able to get away. They obviously told him to drop his weapon. He refused to do so. He fired once again, raised his weapon at the direction of the deputies. The deputies at that point returned fire."

Richard Sanfratello was struck. Both he and the victim were taken to Broward Health North, where they have non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said.