PLANTATION, FLA. (WSVN) - A family is demanding answers after, investigators said, a police officer was forced to open fire near a hotel in Plantation, killing a man.
Plantation Police units responded to the scene of a shooting near the Plantation Inn Hotel & Lounge, located off North State Road 7, Saturday afternoon.
Detectives said upon arrival a man, who was later identified as 44-year-old Homea Spence, pointed a gun at officers, who were then forced to fire at him. He would not survive.
Spence’s cousin identified herself as Valerie and said she awaits answers regarding the circumstances of the shooting.
“What happened? That’s what we want to know; the cops are not giving us any answers,” she said. “We want justice, that’s what we want. We want justice for my cousin. His mother’s not here to fight for him, but I want justice for him.”
A witness, who did not wish to be identified, said he saw him dead while he was still in handcuffs, but police have not confirmed this information.
“I seen him in handcuffs when I came out,” said a witness.
Family members said Spence, who also went by “Tony,” worked for the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Police said Spence had a lengthy criminal history and was in possession of a stolen gun, but according to his family, he was on the right track.
“He just got out of a program. He never caused any problems, he never got in trouble with cops,” said Valerie.
In a statement, Plantation Police confirmed the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave. It read, in part, “All involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, as is our policy. We mourn any loss of life, and are working alongside the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate this incident.”
Spence was released from jail last September.
Police officers were not harmed in this incident. FDLE continues to investigate.
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