TAMARAC, FLA. (WSVN) - Rescue crews took a man and a woman to the hospital after a violent chain of events ended in a deputy-involved shooting at an apartment complex in Tamarac.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies reported to the scene of the shooting at The Osprey Apartments along Northwest 58th Avenue and 57th Court, at around 7 p.m., Thursday.
According to investigators, 32-year-old Kimani Pearce shot the woman inside the home and initially refused to come out.
“Her boyfriend shot her in the chest area. That’s all we know,” said witness Roice Walker, a relative of the victim.
Cellphone video showed Pearce waving a gun outside the building before pointing it at deputies, who opened fire seconds later.
“He walked outside and sat on the doorstep,” said witness Wesley Findley. “All of a sudden, all the cops came in, they asked the gentleman to come off the doorsteps, and they just lit him up. We heard like eight or nine gunshots.”
Both Pearce and the woman, later identified as 31-year-old Merica Green, were transported to an area hospital as trauma alerts. They were both listed in stable condition.
“I got here as the paramedics were bringing her out to the awaiting helicopter to take her off to the hospital,” said Walker.
“I hear all kinds of yelling and screaming. Then I hear that door upstairs across there open up and slam against the wall,” said witness Howard Richer.
Green has since been released from the hospital and told 7News she is fine.
“When I just looked down, I was like, ‘Oh, gosh. I was shot,'” Green said. “I didn’t need any stitches. I didn’t need blood. I didn’t need anything.”
Despite shooting her, Green insisted Pearce is not a violent man and that he was just having a mental breakdown.
“He just snapped. He’s not a violent person,” she said. “I know how it’s being portrayed in the media, but he doesn’t beat me. We’ve never had any of that.”
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony described Pearce as “highly dangerous.”
“We have an individual who has already proven to be aggressive. He shot someone inside the house,” he said. “He took it upon himself to stand on the landing and stop our deputies from going in there and safeguarding and treating this individual.”
Tony said it wasn’t until at least 20 minutes of back-and-forth negotiations that deputies opened fire.
“The police were just saying, ‘Drop the gun, drop the gun.’ There was one police lady in a car saying, ‘Drop the gun, drop the gun,’ but he refused,” said witness Wendy Richland. “I was like petrified. I’m like, ‘Oh my God,’ and ran in the house.”
“He elected to point the weapon in a hostile manner at our deputies, so they did an outstanding job,” he said.
Tony did not specify how many deputies may have fired their weapons.
BSO crime scene investigators remained at the scene late Thursday night.
Officials said the deputies involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.
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