MARGATE, FLA. (WSVN) - An elderly woman was taken to the hospital after, police said, shots were fired by a carnival employee at the Margate City Fairground — just hours before the Broward Fair was set to open to the public.
According to Margate Police, there was an altercation between two carnival employees at the Margate City Fairground, located at 1000 N. State Rd. 7, at around 4:30 a.m., Thursday.
One of the employees, Brandon Craig, brandished a firearm and fired two shots, police said.
One of the bullets traveled into the room of a 91-year-old woman at a nearby senior facility, The Senior Center at Lakeside Drive.
The victim was struck in the foot and transported to Broward Health North with injuries that are not life-threatening.
Authorities took Craig into custody. They said there is no threat to the public.
Craig faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm.
“It is a serious situation. I can’t talk too much on exactly what happened, because there is a ongoing investigation still, but my thoughts and prayers are with her and the family,” said Margate Mayor Antonio Arserio.
Maintenance crews with Waterside Landing Assisted Living cleaned up the damage and patched up the damaged screen door.
Craig is being held at the Broward County Jail.
The mayor said safety and security will be a top priority for those who will be attending the fair.
“We’ve talked to the operator, we’ve talked to the police chief,” said Arserio. “There’s no known threat to the city. It’s serious, but was an isolated incident. We are going to have a police presence here throughout the entirety of the fair.”
The Broward Fair opened at 5 p.m. Thursday.
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