FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police in Fort Lauderdale have stopped an active shooter situation at an apartment building, sending the gunman to the hospital, officials said.
Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene in the area of Northeast 14th Avenue and Sixth Street, in the Victoria Park neighborhood, just before 7 p.m., Monday.
Investigators said responding officers located the armed subject on a fourth-floor balcony shooting in the direction of people and vehicles.
Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione said a police officer was flagged down at the same time they started receiving 911 calls about the shooter.
“We were simultaneously receiving calls into 911 that someone was firing a gun about the same time that we got flagged down,” he said.
Police said the gunman hit a Hertz delivery van multiple times.
“The gentleman was on the fourth level and shooting downward and actually shot into a Hertz van,” Julie Zeller said. “We came and ran to our window, which is right here, and we’re looking, and the gentleman pull out, and they pull out guns. They’re aiming, and they have this stance, so we know that there must be someone else with a gun.”
Area resident Jacob Lapp said he heard gunfire.
“I just heard a pop, came outside, and then all of a sudden the cop car turned around the corner,” he said. “I saw the flashes inside, came out and cops screamed at us to get into the house.”
Officers opened fire from the ground and struck the shooter in the stomach.
“We shot one time, up from the ground to the fourth floor, yes,” said Maglione.
Cellphone video captured the gunman in a stretcher as he was being tended to by first responders.
Paramedics have transported the subject to Broward Health Medical Center as a trauma alert with a gunshot wound to the stomach. His injury is not life-threatening.
No one else was injured.
“The officers’ response was quick, and thankfully, no innocent bystanders, no police officers were injured, and hopefully, the subject makes a full recovery as well,” said Maglione.
Neighbors said they were still in awe at what happened.
Lapp, who moved to South Florida from Los Angeles three years ago, said he’s never seen anything quite like this before in the neighborhood.
“Shocked. Shocked,” said Lapp. “Nothing like that ever happens here.”
Officials said the shooter is 68 years old and had no priors. Neighbors said he mostly kept to himself.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting in the investigation.
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