LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A man is in critical condition after police say he attempted to steal an officer’s gun and was shot at the scene following a domestic violence incident at a gas station in Broward County.
Plantation police responded to a gas station located at 10261 W. Broward Blvd. after receiving a call of a domestic disturbance just before 5 a.m. Friday.
Sky 10 was above the scene where officers with the Lauderhill and Plantation police departments were focusing on a home near West Ken Lark Park.
Authorities said a 31-year-old woman was attempting to get away from her 32-year-old boyfriend by hiding in the gas station when the man rammed the door of the business with his vehicle.
As police arrived, the suspect ended up fleeing on foot when he crashed his car into a median near the 1600 block of Northwest 31st Avenue in Lauderhill.
Following a brief foot chase, police attempted to detain the man who they said resisted arrest.
Police said as a struggle ensued, the man attempted to take the officer’s gun when the officer shot him.
The man was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he was listed in critical condition.
Authorities created a large perimeter with over a dozen police cruisers blocking the area.
Southbound traffic was temporarily blocked off on Northwest 31st Avenue near 15th Street as police continued their investigation.
Local 10 News spoke with neighbors who said they weren’t sure if they were woken up by gunshots or the sounds of a possible police pursuit.
“At 4:45 a.m., I heard six gunshots and after that, I seen the lights, heard screams and saw a lot of police cars,” said one man who lives nearby.
“Just waking up early, I heard the ‘boom, boom,’ because we have new speed bumps, and people who are not familiar with the area will hit the speed bumps,” said another Lauderhill resident.
The incident has left many Broward residents on edge.
“I’m traumatized to be honest,” said a Lauderhill resident. “I’ve never witnessed anything that close to where I live, especially a shooting.”
Officers with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were also at the scene, which usually indicates that one or more officers were involved in the incident.
Authorities said the man could face charges that include kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, depriving an officer’s weapon and resisting arrest.
Authorities confirmed that the Plantation Police Department is leading the investigation and no more information has been given at this time.