1 dead, 3 injured in 2nd Lauderhill shooting
By: Franklin White
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – A man was killed and three other victims remain at the hospital after gunfire broke out in a Lauderhill neighborhood for the second day in a row.
Lauderhill Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of Saturday’s shooting near Northwest 24th Court and 53rd Avenue, at around 5:30 p.m.
“They encountered a male laying on the south side of the road, on the swale, suffering from a gunshot wound,” said Lauderhill Police Lt. Mike Santiago. “Officers then find a female victim across the street on the north side of the road, in front of 5225 Northwest 24th Court. She was also suffering from a gunshot wound.”
Witness Ronesa Augusta said she was shocked by the aftermath of the violent incident that took place in broad daylight.
“I never thought I would see someone laying on the ground, not knowing if they were going to wake up or not,” she said.
Minutes after locating these victims, first responders found another woman who said she had been injured as well.
“Another female victim flags the officers down stating that she was also a victim of the shooting,” said Santiago. “Apparently she was driving westbound along 24th Court when the shooting started coming out, and the vehicle was struck by these rounds. In turn, she ended up getting some shrapnel on her upper chest.”
She was treated and released at the scene.
Meanwhile, witnesses tried to keep the male victim alive.
”There were neighbors and residents from the area actually performing CPR on the male at the time,” said Santiago.
Augusta was among those who rendered aid.
“We started to trying to perform CPR on him to bring him back to life, and we actually got him to catch a breath, so someone brought him back to life,” she said. “He could’ve died at that moment if someone didn’t do CPR.”
Paramedics transported him and the other female victim to Broward Health Medical Center in serious condition.
The male victim later succumbed to his injuries. He was identified as Dwayne Smith.
Authorities shut down Northwest 24th Court between 52nd and 55th avenues while they investigated.
Hours later, officials confirmed a fourth victim had been found. He was taken by car to a local hospital on University Boulevard in unknown condition.
Saturday’s incident comes hours after another shooting rocked the same neighborhood, two streets away. Officials said shots rang out along the 2600 block of Northwest 52nd Avenue, just before 9 p.m., Friday.
Responding officers found a man and a woman with apparent gunshot wounds. They were both taken to Broward Health Medical Center in unknown condition.
Police believe Friday’s shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between neighbors.
Now, as detectives continue to investigate both shootings, nearby neighbors said they are praying for an end to the bloodshed.
“Got to put away the guns. You’ve got to stop the gun violence,” said Augusta. “You’ve got children right — what if one of these kids would have got hit? All these kids that are outside playing in the neighborhood, you can’t be doing stuff like that around here at all.”
If you have any information on either shooting, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
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