Birthday party shooting victim had been paralyzed by Stranahan football injury: ‘He’s defenseless’

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SUNRISE, Fla. — Loved ones are searching for answers after a quadriplegic man was fatally shot over the weekend.

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Cellphone video obtained by Local 10 News shows the panic and chaos after the shooting that occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday outside the Five Stars Banquet Hall in Sunrise.

Sunrise fatal shooting victim was previously paralyzed from high school football injury

Friends of the victim identified him as Kendrick English.

A candlelight vigil was held for English on Monday night.

Delarno Barrett, who said he’s known English for years, is heartbroken over his death.

“It’s unreal, I can’t believe (it). I’m dazed right now,” Barrett said.

According to Sunrise police, a birthday party was being held at the banquet hall along Oakland Park Boulevard at the time. English, who is a quadriplegic, was trying to get inside when he was met at the door by 26-year-old Francisco Navarro Sanchez, who was working as a security guard, authorities said.

An arrest form says English was denied entry and there was a verbal argument.

English left and returned for a second time, at which point investigators said English swore at him and Sanchez pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds.

Witnesses said five shots were fired, according to authorities.

English died at an area hospital.

“He’s defenseless, he can’t harm nobody,” said Barrett.

Sanchez went before a Broward County judge on Monday, facing a murder charge.

English went through so much in life after overcoming odds following a football accident as a teenager.

Local 10 News first met English in 1995 following the accident that left him paralyzed. He played for Stranahan High School.

We caught up with him nine years later when he received a specially equipped van so that he could drive.

“I’ve been looking forward to having my own independence and being able to go from point A to point B alone,” he said at the time.

Those who knew and loved English are trying to make sense of this tragedy.

“How can we explain this? It hurts,” Barrett said.

Sanchez remains behind bars at the Broward County Main Jail after being denied bond.

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About The Author
Sanela Sabovic

Sanela Sabovic

Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.