Detectives Puzzled Over Fatal Shooting At Wal-Mart
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LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBSMiami) -- Broward Sheriff's detectives are looking for the shooter who opened fire Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a busy Wal-Mart in Lauderale Lakes.
The store on Oakland Park Blvd and 441 was full of shoppers, who suddenly found themselves being told to stay put.
"It's very surprising. Very shocking," said one frequent shopper who was on his bicycle.
"It's just very unfortunate. This is what our world is turning into," lamented another as he finally drove off hours later.
One woman said she'd "never seen anything like this before."
B.S.O. investigators couldn't say much except the man was shot at about 2 p.m. and was rushed to the hospital, where he died within the hour.
"Right now it really is a bit of a mystery and detectives are working hard to unravel it," explained BSO spokeswoman Gina Carter.
Broward Sheriff's investigators cordoned off much of the parking lot, marking evidence and speaking to people who may have seen what happened. It was still unclear Sunday night if this was an argument that turned deadly, if it was random, or if the shooter and victim knew each other
Shoppers were kept at the Wal-Mart for more than five hours, unable to drive off in their parked cars. Bullet holes could be seen marking the sides of many nearby vehicles.
"I walked up and saw everyone hovering over the body. Somebody got shot in the head," said shopper Orga Espady, finally leaving five hours after the shooting. He said he just stopped by to pick up food, never expecting he'd see a dead body in the middle of the afternoon.
"I spoke to an officer and she told me a gentlemen got shot in the face," shopper James Walker told CBS4's Donna Rapado. "I was very surprised because I've been coming to this store for a long time."
"It's a growing concern how society has gotten to where we are so impatient with each other," one woman said, preferring to stay anonymous, as she finally pulled out of the lot. "You can leave home, not sure you'll make it home. And that's very, very sad because tonight someone is going to bed without their loved one."
Espady added, "It's frustrating, you know, that this is the type of society we live in. People are getting shot over a little argument. People would rather use a gun and shoot somebody and end their life. It's just sad. Prayers to whoever's family member that was."
Investigators urge anyone with information to call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.