LAUDERHILL, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are searching for the person or people responsible for a shooting outside of Lauderhill Mall that claimed the lives of two men and left a third victim injured.
What started as a fun night ended with bullets flying in the parking lot area of the shopping center, located along State Road 7. Officials responded to the scene after a 911 call came in at around 10 p.m. Sunday.
According to police, there was a large crowd in the parking lot at the time of the shooting. The crowd had spilled over into the parking lot after a car show at the Broward County Regional Park.
Surveillance cameras in the area caught the chaos as hundreds ran for their lives upon hearing gunfire.
“I froze, but at the same time, I ran,” said witness Reginald Youngblood. “I was afraid that I might get shot by a stray bullet.”
Other witnesses described the chaos as shots rang out.
“As soon as I opened the front door to AutoZone I hear screaming,” said Kamerron Row. “I never heard the gun shot, so I didn’t know what it was.”
Police said there was a detail officer across the street at Joy’s Roti Delight. When he heard the gun shots, he rushed over and found a victim.
“911 calls continuously came in, and rescue personnel found another victim lying on the ground on the parking lot right behind me, also suffering from a gunshot wound,” said Lauderhill Police Lt. Mike Santiago.
Those victims, identified by police as 32-year-old Lawrence Hall and 28-year-old Omarie Stephens, were transported to Broward General Hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
“About less than an hour later after those calls came out, another individual called in where he was suffering a gunshot to his leg,” said Santiago.
That person drove himself to Plantation General Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.
Police said the victims were part of the group that had just left the car show around 10 p.m.
Youngblood said he was coming to pick up his cousin near the mall when an argument began.
“As I started walking closer, I started seeing people you know moving around, people started cussing and then a fight broke lose,” Youngblood said.
Youngblood also said, “I know there’s a body on the ground. I didn’t want to think death, but at the same time, the body didn’t move, so I kind of came to the conclusion that someone got shot and killed.”
Police said they found shell casings from at least two different guns, but they are not sure how many people were involved in the shooting.
Police are now trying to determine what led up to the shooting. “We don’t know where the victims were, or exactly what happened,” said a Lauderhill Police officer. “There were several shots that were fired and some went into some of the stores behind us, so we’re seeing how they’re related.”
Officials are hoping that if someone saw something that they will come forward. “There were a lot of people here,” Santiago said. “Somebody saw something.”
As of right now, police do not have any information on the suspect but have since reopened the mall.
If you have any information on this shooting, 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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