OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – A busy shopping center in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon could not stop the gunfire.
Witnesses said multiple shots were fired in the parking lot of the Oakland Park Flea Market at 3161 West Oakland Park Boulevard.
A man in his mid-20s was killed and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting call at approximately 12:51 p.m.
“An altercation occurred between multiple adult males,” Sgt. Donald Prichard of BSO said at the scene. “That altercation led to a shooting, which left the victim shot and killed.”
Prichard said the suspects are described as white Latin males.
“It is believed they fled in a black Escalade-type vehicle in a southbound direction,” Prichard said.
As the minutes and hours passed Sunday, the shooting victim’s friends and family members showed up at the scene.
“It’s just a very sad situation. You are right her in front of the flea market,” said Nikki Stokes, a family friend. ”People dying out here — that’s ridiculous. Someone else could have gotten killed today because of this foolishness. We need to stop the violence.”
Detectives spent several hours processing the area for clues and interviewing witnesses about what may have led up to the gunfire.
A motive and who was targeted in this shooting is still being investigated, but there are cameras in the parking lot and investigators will be scouring that video for clues.
“All I can say is there were multiple males involved in this altercation,” Prichard said.
Authorities said an AR-15 style rifle was recovered at the scene.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Palushaj at 954-321-4226. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.