NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Deputies are investigating a car fire at a North Lauderdale park after they found a body inside the vehicle’s trunk.
Police are now looking for the person who they said murdered the victim and stuffed him inside Pontiac before setting it on fire in Bicentennial Park.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the scene near Southwest 107th Court and Kimberly Drive after receiving a report of a vehicle fire just after 5 a.m.
When North Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to the scene and extinguished the flames, they found a man’s body inside.
“A male’s body was found in a vehicle that was on fire, just after 5 a.m., this morning,” said Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Joy Oglesby. “Once the fire was extinguished, they found a male’s body in the vehicle. At this time, Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating it as a homicide.”
The man’s identity and cause of death is currently unknown. However, one witness who didn’t want to be identified said she heard gunshots early in the morning.
“It was about 5 a.m. I was up going to the bathroom, and I heard a couple shots, maybe about three or four shots, and my daughter woke up right away, and we started listening, and then soon after, heard a few more – ‘BOP BOP,'” she said. “I jump up, I kept looking around at all my windows. I looked outside, I saw the police coming.”
Another woman said she was woken up by the loud noises. “I heard two gunshots, but my husband said he heard three,” said neighbor Esther Vern.
Police are still searching for clues to find out what exactly went on. “If somebody heard something, saw something in the hours before or in the moments right after the vehicle was on fire, they’re asked to come forward and talk to detectives,” Oglesby said.
The body has been sent to the medical examiner’s office to determine a cause of death.
If you have any information on this incident, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
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