Gunman Fires On BSO Deputy In Deerfield Beach
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DEERFIELD BEACH (CBSMiami) - A massive manhunt was launched in Deerfield Beach after someone fired on a Broward Sheriff's deputy.
Around 3 a.m., a deputy heard gunfire and headed to the area where it was coming from. Rocky Pricles is the manager of the Tropicante Nightclub.
"I heard the gunfire," he said. "It was just rapid fire," he explained.
He said it came from one street away. Then he saw the gunman drive up next to the club, where he came across that deputy.
"And pretty much the truck drove this way, once the deputy noticed the guy was shooting he opened up fire," Pricles said.
BSO explained what happened when the deputy arrived at the Tropicante nightclub at 4251 N Dixie Highway, "At one point one of the suspects fired a shot at the deputy, they deputy did exchange gunfire, fortunately our deputy was not struck," said BSO Spokeswoman Veda Cole-Wright.
Outside the club, arriving deputies found a man who had been shot in that first incident a block away. He was taken to an area hospital and rushed into surgery. His injuries are not life threatening, according to BSO. The deputy, who was not hit, was also taken to the hospital to be checked out.
Dozens of deputies and police officers have converged on the area near North Dixie Highway and Sample Road and set up a perimeter which extended to the borders of Pompano Beach and Boca Raton.
A few of the roads inside the perimeter were closed to traffic. Those walking to bus stops or to work were caught off guard by what was going on.
"It's horrible, it's unsafe to be around here walking in the streets like I'm walking to work right now. You know especially when you have people that are shooting at police officers, it's crazy," said Inez Torres.
Drivers were urged to avoid the area until the sheriff's office had concluded its investigation.