FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale police say a 32-year-old woman is in custody after a shooting that occurred Tuesday morning, injuring a teenage boy and an elderly man.
The suspect has been identified as Gwendolyn Whitfield-Dorsey, of Fort Lauderdale, and she will face two counts of first-degree attempted murder, police say.
Detectives say they believe it was a domestic incident, though they are still investigating and have not disclosed her relationship to the two people injured.
Sgt. DeAnna Greenlaw said in an email to Local 10 News that officers responded to a shooting just before 8:30 a.m. in the 2900 block of Southwest 13th Court. While at the scene, they heard gunshots in the immediate area and ran over to investigate.
According to Greenlaw, the officers encountered an armed female in the front yard of a home and ordered her to drop the handgun she was holding.
“Officers later determined that female was responsible for disarming the suspect during the altercation. The suspect, a different adult female, was identified and taken into custody without further incident,” FLPD said in a news release.
Greenlaw confirmed that a teenage boy and an elderly man were injured in the shooting and were taken to Broward Health Medical Center.
She said the teen was in critical but stable condition, while the elderly man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
“Detectives will be in the area piecing together the details of what exactly occurred prior to the arrival of our officers,” Greenlaw said.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
“It’s unusual in this area. Very quiet area,” Joe Smariga, who lives in the area, said.
A motive for the shooting also remains unclear at this time.
“We’re just thankful we’re able to bring this to a quick end without anybody else getting hurt,” Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa said.