LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A 15-year-old boy was shot several times on Thursday night in Broward County’s city of Lauderhill.
Officers surrounded the Lauderhill Point apartments at 3116 NW 19 St., and investigators were canvassing the scene for witnesses. The bullets also damaged a car and detectives were collecting evidence inside.
According to police, the shooting happened around 8:30 p.m.
According to Lt. Michael Santiago, a spokesman for the Lauderhill Police Department, the teenager was standing in the parking lot when gunfire erupted.
The teenager’s condition was serious and he is getting treatment at the Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, according to Santiago. He is in stable condition, and his injuries are non-life threatening.
According to people familiar with this property, people are known for bullying their kids in the area, and, unfortunately, the sound of a shooting is a familiar soundtrack for the lives of people who live here
“They have so many unsolved cases of shootings and killings,” says an area resident.
According to police data from 2014 to 2019, more than 2,400 calls for 9-1-1 service have been called from the area, and there are a range of offenses here, spanning from aggravated assault and drug offenses to robbery and murder.
In November of last year, police say 32-year-old Vedner Jacsaint was shot to death around 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday and was found lying in a hallway at Lauderhill Point. Police said they made two arrests in this case.
Below, find calls for service at Lauderhill Point via the Lauderhill Police Department:
Thursday night, crime scene investigators worked to collect evidence related to the shooting of the teenager. As of Friday, police are still working to find the person responsible. However, not a single person has come forward with any information.
Police also said the property management company has started the process of making security enhancements at Lauderhill Point include increasing their cameras and making repairs to entry and exit gates. However, on Fridays, the gates were wide open.
No arrests have been made. Police are investigating whether the teenager was the intended target or if he was standing at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Santiago is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the Lauderhill Police Department at 954-497-4700 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
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Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Emily Hales contributed to this report.