LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A father’s worst nightmare unfolded after he received the call that his teenage son had been shot in Lauderhill on Monday night.
Lauderhill police confirmed officers responded to a call just after 9:30 p.m. regarding an armed carjacking with a victim sustaining gunshot wounds near the 1700 block of Northwest 58th Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers said they found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound, who was subsequently transported to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Police said it was determined that the suspect, who they identified as Josiah E. Bennett, 21, shot the victim in the thigh and fled the scene with the vehicle.
The distraught father was heard on body camera video telling Lauderhill police he had a tracker on his son’s car, which led officers to locate the suspect.
The victim told police that he befriended a woman on a social media platform and was looking to meet her in person, leading to the incident.
According to Lt. Mustafa Malik, of the Lauderhill Police Department, the lesson learned is to exercise caution when meeting people online, especially late at night.
“The teen is considered fortunate to have survived as he was shot with a high-powered rifle,” said Malik.
Monday marked the victim’s birthday, and he decided to meet the woman he met online. Instead, he was ambushed by Bennett with a rifle, according to police.
“This same subject we’ve had quite a few run-ins with -- last week, drug and narcotics,” said Malik.
Despite the challenges, law enforcement officers located the victim’s car, thanks to the concerted efforts of a dedicated group.
“We have a strong group that works together and they get a lot of practice with incidents like these,” Malik added.
Investigators confirmed that Lauderhill Road Patrol officers later located the victim’s vehicle, a 2019 Blue Hyundai Elantra, and detained Bennett for further investigation.
Police said a gun matching the one that was allegedly used by Bennett was recovered at the scene.
Additionally, a girl, whose age has not been released, was arrested in connection to the shooting and faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence, according to police.
Jail records show Bennett is facing charges of armed carjacking and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Authorities have not identified the girl involved in the shooting but confirmed that both culprits confessed to their involvement in the incident.
Police continue to search for the woman the victim intended to meet, and anyone with information is urged to contact Lauderhill police at 954-497-4700 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.