Deadly double shooting at Lauderhill shopping plaza under investigation
FORT LAUDERDALE - An investigation is underway after a double shooting in the parking lot of a Lauderhill strip mall that left one man dead and another person hurt early Wednesday.
Christopher Matthew Fletcher, 34, died after being rushed for treatment to Broward Health Medical Center, according to a written statement from Lauderhill police.
A second unidentified man walked into Florida Medical Center for treatment of a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, police said. He was later taken to Broward Health Medical Center, police said.
Investigators did not say if they have identified a suspect accused of shooting the pair.
According to Lauderhill police, they received a call about the shooting at the shopping plaza in the 4500 block of N University Drive around 3:30 a.m.
When officers arrived, they found a man who had been shot multiple times and lying on the ground.
Evidence markers on the ground indicate the shooting took place near The Spot Lounge Bar & Grill in the plaza.
Police said a fight led to the gunfire but it was not clear what prompted the disagreement.
"Detectives have determined that this is an isolated incident which stemmed from an altercation amongst individuals in the parking lot," the police statement said..
This is the 4th deadly shooting CBS News Miami has reported on in Lauderhill since January 1st. For context, Fort Lauderdale has had 2, Hollywood zero, BSO 3, Miami's had 4 and in unincorporated Miami-Dade, the number is 8
Melissa Dunn is a Lauderhill city commissioner. "I believe violence is a public health emergency," she said.
She said they're putting programs in place to combat the violence, like one being rolled out called Peace 365. "It's a pilot program that's intended to look at the root cause of violence and address it. But not by ourselves, working in collaboration with community, with faith-based organizations," she explained.
She's also working on conflict resolution programs. "How you respond the next time someone cut you off in traffic, how you respond next time you get in an argument with you're spouse or neighbor is critical and I believe that in most cases, some of us do not have the skills to navigate those conflicts without reaching for a gun or a knife or using our fist," she said.
Commissioner Dunn calls this a comprehensive approach. She said the city is working with groups to help curb domestic violence and is getting more technology in place to help police respond more quickly to gunfire.