HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Hollywood police conducted a homicide investigation at a warehouse near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Wednesday morning.
Few details were available about the investigation, which took place at the Hollywood offices of Wärtsilä North America, a Finnish company that operates in the marine and energy sectors.
The warehouse is located at 2900 SW 42nd St., west of the airport.
Police said they responded to the scene at around 6:45 a.m. after receiving a call of a suspicious incident. When officers arrived, they found a man dead inside the fuel room of the business with head trauma, laying in a pool of blood.
Officers then spoke with business employees who told them that a co-worker, 31-year-old Bryan Menocal, admitted to killing another co-worker.
A police report stated Menocal used “a large sledgehammer” on the victim, striking him repeatedly.
Police said Menocal fled the scene but was later taken into custody outside an apartment complex on Northwest 2nd Street in Deerfield Beach.
He’s being charged by police with second-degree murder and is expected to face a judge on Thursday.
Wärtsilä employees said the business was closed Wednesday morning while police investigated.
The company later said in a statement that it was “very saddened” to learn of the incident.
“Our deepest condolences go to the family of the deceased worker,” the statement said. “The facility remains closed and the authorities are investigating the incident. They will comment once more information is available.”