WEST PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities are investigating a deputy-involved shooting in West Park that ended with two deputies and a suspect hurt, Friday morning.
Both injured deputies and the suspect, identified as 49-year-old John Musso, were taken to Memorial Regional Hospital and were released by early Friday afternoon.
Musso was not shot. He was only injured by shattered glass from the front windshield of his vehicle, after, police said, he suddenly and rapidly reversed his vehicle and knocked down a male and female deputy, and then the third deputy opened fire.
Musso now sits behind bars at the BSO Main Jail facing two counts of aggravated battery to a law enforcement officer, ahead of a hearing.
According to officials, the incident began at around 2:13 a.m., when a Broward Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy noticed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a plaza along West Hallandale Boulevard, near Southwest 46th Avenue. Deputies said Musso was in the vehicle apparently passed out, with drug paraphernalia in plain view and the engine still running.
The deputy called for backup units, and when Musso noticed the deputy, he began to drive away slowly. He made it onto Hallandale Beach Boulevard and made a U-turn to head eastbound as backup units arrived and blocked his path.
Musso stopped and acted as if he was complying with the three uniformed deputies’ commands, said police. However, as they began to approach the vehicle, Musso reportedly floored the car into reverse, injuring the two deputies and striking a BSO cruiser.
Musso only stopped after more BSO units arrived on the scene.
After the three injured were transported to the hospital, Hallandale Beach Boulevard was shut down east and westbound, between 48th and 43rd avenues, for nearly seven hours, Friday morning. The suspect’s car was towed from the scene at 9 a.m., and the road reopened shortly thereafter.
Nearby residents stuck in traffic were left wondering what happened. Thomas Dorsett, a West Park commissioner, said, “I heard there was a police shooting out on the corner, so I told my people, ‘I got to go out there and see what’s happened.”
Pam Williams is a nearby business owner. She said, “I was just blown by that, but I know that at some point the police have to protect themselves, period, but it did surprise me. I was pleased by their actions.”
Now detectives want to know what pushed Musso to throw the car into reverse and hit the gas. He is expected to appear in bond court on Saturday.
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