POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Two people are dead following a deputy-involved shooting in Broward County, authorities confirmed.
According to Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Veda Coleman Wright, deputies responded to a Broward Transit bus area near the 3200 block of West Copans Road in Pompano Beach just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving reports about a shooting.
A spokesman with Broward County Transit confirmed that the suspect and victim were employees of the maintenance facility.
Coleman Wright said the 59-year-old suspect fatally shot his 42-year-old co-worker, and then fired at responding deputies, leading three of them to return fire.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
His identity has not yet been released.
When a Local 10 News crew arrived at the scene, detectives were spotted going into a bus that had been shot up.
“This is a tragic loss of life. Our Broward County family grieves the loss of these two transit employees. Let us keep their memories in our thoughts and prayers as we process this terrible loss,” Broward County Mayor Nan Rich said in a statement.
Alejandro Peniro, a Broward County Transit employee, told Local 10 News that he ran inside for cover after hearing several gunshots.
Coleman Wright said BSO crime scene, homicide and internal affairs detectives are at scene Thursday investigating the shooting that occurred before deputies arrived.
She said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the fatal deputy-involved shooting.
“Per BSO policy, three deputies were placed on administrative assignment,” Coleman Wright said in an email to Local 10 News. “The investigation continues.”
BCT spokesman Greg Meyer said there may be a slight delay in certain routes Thursday due to the ongoing investigations.
“Broward County Employee Assistance Teams were deployed early this morning to work with fellow employees who have been affected by last night’s tragedy at one of our bus maintenance facilities,” Meyer said in a statement. “The County has been fully cooperating with all law enforcement activities related to this incident.”
Broward County officials told Local 10 News that county employees are allowed to have weapons in their vehicles but not at their places of employment.
Local 10 News reporters Bridgette Matter and Christian De La Rosa contributed to this story.