LAUDERHILL, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating a home invasion at a Lauderhill apartment that left one person dead.
According to Lauderhill Police, at around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, an officer patrolling the area of Northwest 19th Street and 55th Avenue heard shots fired.
A neighbor who lives one building over from the crime scene said she was already in bed at the time the gunfire rang out.
“I did not know what it was, so I went straight back to sleep. It’s scary, yeah. And I’m sorry for the person that, I heard somebody died,” said neighbor Bernice Adeusi.
An officer went to investigate where he heard the shots. Meanwhile, police received 911 calls reporting a shooting at the Windermere apartment complex.
Among the calls was a man telling police he had been shot in the upper thigh.
Officers arrived in the area and located the victim who flagged them down.
The victim told police a group of male individuals had broke into his apartment demanding items, but he didn’t tell police what exactly those items were. At some point, he managed to run from the apartment after being shot.
The wounded victim also told officers that his roommate was missing.
“He directed us to 5209 NW 18th Street, Apartment 2. The officers then moved over to this particular location. Once they arrived, they weren’t getting any response from knocking at the doors, and also one of the officers tried the doorknob, and at that point, he swung the door open, and that’s when he discovered the body of an adult male lying directly in front of the doorway also suffering from apparent gunshot wounds,” Lauderhill Police Lt. Mike Santiago explained.
Police learned that the victims lived in the apartment with two other roommates. There were also more people inside the apartment at the time, but they were able to account for everyone except the shooter or shooters.
Police are now classifying this case as a home invasion with a homicide.
“The story that we’re getting is that they had a group of individuals busting their way into the apartment and demand certain items, but the victim didn’t tell us what type of items they were, that they were looking for. At that time, gunfire erupted and that’s when everyone fled the scene,” Santiago said.
The surviving victim was treated by fire rescue and is expected to be OK.
Police have no subject information or descriptions at this time and are going door to door in the area searching for any witness information as well as speaking to witnesses who were inside the apartment.
If you have any information on this fatal home invasion, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
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