Gunman Opens Fire at Florida Gas Station, 1 Injured

Warning: Video might be distressing for some viewers

A man was injured during a gas station robbery attempt near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and sheriff’s officials are now asking the public for their help in finding the suspect.

According to video footage posted by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, the victim, who is wearing a white shirt and green camouflage pants can be seen getting into a white car.

Then, a black man wearing a mask who is clad in a blue hoodie, green camouflage shorts, and black Adidas shoes with the typical white Adidas stripes approaches the vehicle with a gun and fires shots.

The driver of the vehicle speeds away while the gunman continues to shoot.

WSVN in Miami reported that Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Marathon gas station at 3090 Sunrise Blvd. at around 3 a.m. on Aug. 22. In the incident, one person was shot and injured. The victim was not identified.

“The victim was leaving the gas station when he was approached by the subject,” said sheriff’s office spokesperson Joy Oglesby, according to the TV station “That person tried to rob him and fired shots at him. Fortunately for the victim, he was able to get away.”

The victim fled to safety at a nearby apartment complex. Deputies and emergency services responded and took the victim to Broward Health Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, the station reported.

“It’s not clear where the gunshots actually continued, but they did start at the gas station,” Oglesby said.

Oglesby said that any witnesses who saw the shooting should come forward.

“At this point, if anybody recalls being at the gas station around 3 a.m. and hearing shots or hearing some commotion and remembering if they saw someone or something ... any bit of information like that is essential to our detectives,” said Oglesby to the station.

He added that anyone who “heard something or saw something just before the shooting or just after the shooting ... those are the details we need.”

Witnesses are urged to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. People can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a $3,000 reward, the station said.

Broward County Troubles

On Aug. 28, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association, a union, said that the Broward Sheriff’s Office owes its employees about $12 million in underpayments and past pension contributions, Local10 reported.

The office, however, disputed that figure, saying it owes thousands of dollars, not millions of dollars.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel speaks before the start of a CNN town hall meeting at the BB&T Center, in Sunrise, Florida, Feb. 21, 2018. (Reuters/Michael Laughlin/Pool/File Photo)

“This is a huge victory for current as well as retired employees,” Union President Jeff Bell said in a statement obtained by the station. “The union attempted to resolve this matter for a fraction of the cost and agreed to language changes in the contract to favor BSO months ago. The sheriff is trusted as the gatekeeper of public funds and unfortunately, he let personal feelings related to a no-confidence vote get in the way of saving the public at least $10 million.”

The payments are expected to be made to employees who are affected by Sept. 30, the report said.

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