DANIA BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities are investigating after a man was shot and killed during a confrontation with Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies in Dania Beach.
Deputies were dispatched to the area of the 5400 block of Southwest 32nd Terrace, in the Oakridge neighborhood, at around 7:22 p.m., Friday.
BSO said they responded to a home in that area to a domestic violence call. Rachel Renee Mercon said Joshua Gay is her boyfriend, and they got into an argument.
“They should have talked to him and got him to put that gun down,” Mercon said. “There’s no reason why he should have been shot.”
According to deputies, the woman told deputies the boyfriend grabbed a gun and took off.
“The call was about him leaving the house with a gun,” Mercon said. “He did not put his hands on anyone. He just left the house with my gun. Now, I know he wasn’t supposed to have my gun, and he went into my safe and took my gun, but he did not do anything with that gun before he left this house, and a domestic violence call should be because somebody put their hands on someone, not because of somebody leaving a house with a gun.”
While they were searching for Gay, they received a second call of shots fired along the 2500 block of Stirling Road, just west of Interstate 95.
That’s when, investigators said, they located Gay and a confrontation ensued. A deputy then fired their weapon.
Gay was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“I just want people to know that he was a kind-hearted, sweetest person ever, and he would never hurt anyone,” Mercon said.
Deputies blocked off Sterling Road in both directions while they worked the scene.
“It should be noted that a firearm was recovered on scene, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be the primary lead investigator of this investigation,” said BSO spokesperson Donald Prichard.
The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is conducted.
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