Police: 91-year-old in assisted living facility struck by stray bullet that came from fairgrounds

MARGATE, Fla. – A 91-year-old woman was injured in a shooting that occurred Thursday morning at the Broward County Fair in Margate, authorities confirmed.

According to the Margate police, two carnival employees got into an altercation around 4:30 a.m. when one of the employees, Brandon Lucas Craig, 40, pulled out a gun and fired two shots into the air.

Brandon Craig. (Broward Sheriff's Office)

Police said one of the bullets traveled into the room of a nearby senior facility, Waterside Landing, and struck a resident.

The victim was transported by Margate Fire Rescue to Broward Health North with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said she had been shot in the foot.

Margate’s Mayor Antonio Arserio wants people to know that the shooting was an isolated incident and that the fair is a safe, family friendly environment.

“We’ve talked to the operator, we’ve talked to the police chief. There’s no known threat to the city. It is serious, but was an isolated incident.

(WPLG)

The shooting comes on the first day that the Broward County Fair opens to the public. It runs through Dec. 5.

According to a representative from the fair, the incident stemmed from two men arguing over a woman.

Fair officials said Craig is a “self-employed game operator from West Palm Beach” and will no longer work at the fair or at any of its parent company’s locations.

Craig faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery, and carrying a concealed firearm.

Craig is expected to appear before a judge on Thursday.


About the Authors

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

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.