TAMARAC, FLA. (WSVN) - A man who killed himself in Tamarac inadvertently killed his roommate and their dog, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the home at 7932 Exeter Circle West, Wednesday morning. Officials found 64-year-old Michael Payson inside of a running car in the garage.
Deputies also said his roommate, 72-year-old Thomas Boyle, was found dead upstairs with their dog.
Detectives believe the incident was a suicide gone wrong.
“The fumes were very strong,” said BSO deputy Gina Carter. “It’s possible that the car may have been left running overnight. This appears to have been a suicide and accidental death. There was a note inside for the suicide. The homes that were adjacent to this one – it’s a town home development – the other units also had a lot of fumes in them, and firefighters had to evacuate those units.”
7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where fire rescue crews and deputies were able to make their way inside after pumping air into the home and clearing the fumes.
Upon hearing of the incident, residents were shocked by the tragedy of it.
“Words cannot express how I feel,” said neighbor Michael King.
“They’ve been here a long time. I used to see them quite often, fixing their lawn and stuff,” said neighbor Gary Levy. “You think that something like this would never happen close to home.”
Neighbors that had to be evacuated have since been allowed to go back inside their homes.
The families of both men have been notified.
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