FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A man wanted in connection with his girlfriend’s shooting faced a judge one day after, authorities said, he shot a Sunrise Police officer in Fort Lauderdale.
Thirty-one-year-old Romuliss Hicks appeared in court, Wednesday morning. The presiding judge ordered he be held without bond.
“Criminal attempt to solicit, he has a no bond hold. Crime 2, carjacking with a firearm is a no bond hold,” said the judge.
Investigators said Hicks was wanted for a previous shooting in Sunrise on Saturday. According to an affidavit, a woman “explained that her boyfriend and child’s father, Romuliss (Jarquives) Hicks had shot her and stolen her car.”
The affidavit further states the suspect “stood directly over the top of her, brandished a semi-automatic handgun and discharged no less than two rounds straight down at her, striking her in the upper arm and shoulder.”
Police said they believed they located Hicks in a Fort Lauderdale Park and Ride lot, Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators said shots were fired, and both Hicks and the officer were struck.
“When I looked back, I saw the police officer on the floor, bleeding from one leg,” said witness Juan Vidal Carrion.
“I heard the shots. We were inside the little hood as we were waiting for the bus, and I heard, ‘dot, dot, dot, dot,’” said Magnolia Carrion, who heard the shots. “I ran behind somebody’s pickup truck and laid on the ground.”
Cellphone video captured the immediate aftermath of the gunfire, as police officers surrounded the injured officer.
The video also captured Hicks lying on his side to the right of the officer, as well as a firearm in an empty parking spot.
Carrion said she and her family were waiting to board a bus to Georgia trying to make it to a family funeral.
She never expected to have to dive for cover from gunfire, scared for her life.
“There were a lot of other people laying on the ground,” she said.
Paramedics rushed the officer was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center via ground transport with a gunshot wound to their leg while Hicks was also transported to an area hospital from injuries.
The injured officer underwent surgery on Wednesday and is said to be recovering. He is expected to be OK.
The officer’s brothers and sisters in blue gathered at the hospital to check on their colleague on Tuesday.
Back at the scene of the incident, investigators spent the night trying to piece together what led to the shots fired in the public lot.
The travelers at the bus stop who were caught in the middle of the shooting ended up safely on their bus hours later.
Officials with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said their investigation remains open and ongoing.
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