NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) — Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies are not saying much about their investigation into the death of a young 27-year-old father, who neighbors believe, was shot dead outside his home.
The father of a 2-month-old was gunned down at around 11 p.m. Monday, on the 1600 block of Belmont Lane.
In this neighborhood you’ll find fathers spending time with their small kids, but today Robert Pariagh is sympathizing over what happened last night to another dad in the area. “One of my worst fears as a father. “One of my worst fears, as a father. Who would take care of my children and the rest of my family?”
Family members said the man was shot near his front door, dropping in the bushes before his doorway. The victim’s father-in-law said his daughter called him panicked with worry. “My daughter called me, and she was frantic on the phone, said her husband got shot,” said Clive Ricketts. “She said, ‘Come now, right now, Dad. Come right now.”
Derrell Reid, a neighbor, said he heard screams after the gunshots rang out. “I heard somebody screaming, ‘Aahh! Oh, my God,’ and I said, ‘Oh, man.'”
Neighbors who live nearby initially thought the gunshots were fireworks. “I hear a lot of popping sounds. My 10-year-old came and told me that she heard sounds, and I told her that it’s almost Fourth of July, so it could be fireworks,” said an unidentified woman. “After that, she came back in the room and said she thinks somebody got hurt really bad.”
Ricketts called his son-in-law a good person. “The young man was a great young man. I mean, anybody would love to have a kid like that as a son-in-law, and I’m really, really hurt right now,” he said.
The victim is survived by his wife and 2-month-old baby.
Police are now searching for the gunman. BSO have not mentioned whether they have a suspect or a motive.
If you have any information on this death, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.