FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Officials who were called to an abandoned downtown Fort Lauderdale home due to reports of a barricaded subject found a woman’s body inside instead.
The body was removed from the home, Thursday afternoon as Fort Lauderdale Police continue to search for clues in what they’re calling “a suspicious death.”
Police said the woman, who was in her 30s, was murdered at the house along Las Olas Boulevard and Southwest Eighth Avenue, at around 10 p.m., Wednesday.
The SWAT team was initially called out to a house on reports of the barricaded subject, but when they arrived, they could not get an answer from anyone inside.
Neighbors were kept out of their homes as officials investigated, Wednesday night.
“I came home around 10:30, 11 o’clock, and all entries to my neighborhood were closed,” said neighbor Adam Grenadier, “so I had no choice but to park over here on the side, where another gentleman was standing and was waiting too to go home.”
Police finally went inside around 4 a.m. and found the woman dead.
Some residents said they were kept away for several hours, before being allowed back into their homes.
“My neighbor came to me and told me somebody got shot inside the house next door to us, so you cannot go over there,” said Tony Gerdak. “The officers, they have surrounded all the houses. My son is inside. He’s 17 years old, and I have to take him to school, so I called him. He said, ‘Dad, I cannot get out of the apartment.'”
According to neighbors, the people who were in the home were squatters.
“There’s no electricity in that house. They’re homeless,” said neighbor Diego Gallego. “I know they have some drug problems, that’s for sure. I’ve called the police maybe three, four times on them because of the fights that they have at 2, 3 in the morning. They’re pretty violent.”
Officials have not yet released the name of the woman found. They have not said if they’re looking for a suspect.
However, they’re still looking for answers and hope that the public can help.
If you have any information on this incident, 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.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.