DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – An investigation is ongoing after a shooting on Wednesday in Deerfield Beach.
It happened at a park near the 400 block of Southwest Second Street.
The park where children play was swarmed by Broward Sheriff’s deputies as well as undercover officers.
Detectives could be seen on the field where neighbors said a juvenile was shot.
“A young man playing and all the sudden, he’s lying on the ground, shot, in his head,” said neighbor Terry Scott.
Investigators say the victim, who was identified as 16-year-old Rickey Ferguson, was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. He remains there in critical condition.
Scott heard the gunshot and said it happened in broad daylight, just after 5 p.m.
“Children and elderly, playing and walking, and that’s why we have to put cease to this now. We can’t allow this to go on any further,” he said.
Wednesday night, people in the Deerfield Beach community told Local 10 News they’re worried for the children in this neighborhood.
Authorities have yet to provide any information on a possible suspect.
On Thursday, city officials confirmed that the victim was a football player at Deerfield Beach High School.
Head coach of Deerfield Beach High School football, Tramain Hall, was devastated after learning one of his players was shot Wednesday and is now fighting for his life.
“Everybody is praying for him, but it is a bad situation,” said Hall. “When I heard about this I was tore up because I seen the work that Rickey did to continue to be successful.”
Hall described the sophomore as a phenomenal player.
“He was coming around, he was our starting safety,” said Hall. “He was going to be a Power 5 student athlete.”
A young man who hoped to further his education.
“Rickey’s whole mindset was like, ‘Hey Coach, I want to go to college,’” Hall said of Ferguson, who added that the teen was trying to find a way to turn his life around.
“Rickey was turned around. Good kid and like every kid he had some things he had to work on and everybody at our administration at Deerfield Beach High school who saw that change,” Hall said.
In the wake of the shooting, the City of Deerfield Beach is offering community support.
It will be offered from Friday through Monday at the Tigner Center from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Tigner Center is located at 445 Southwest 2nd Street.
Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.