BSO ID's Man Shot, Killed By Deputies
HOLLYWOOD - (CBS4) – The Broward Sheriff's Office has identified the man who was shot and killed by deputies near Hollywood Beach on Sunday.
According to BSO, 42-year-old James Purdue was agitated, angry and apparently suicidal when he made threats against police. When BSO deputies who responded felt threatened by his actions, they opened fire and shot him dead on State Road A1A in Hollywood.
It all started shortly after 4:00 p.m. Sunday when deputies answered a call made to 911 about a suicidal, armed man in the parking lot of a Winn Dixie in Dania Beach. The caller said the man had threatened "to kill a cop," according to BSO Spokesperson Dani Moschella.
When deputies arrived, Purdue was already gone but deputies searched and found him at nearby Dania Beach Pier. They asked him to surrender, but he refused, and instead got into a white pickup truck and drove away, deputies following.
Purdue stopped again at the Dania Beach Grill, but once again, Moschella said he refused deputies' requests to surrender peacefully.
Driving once again, the man crossed into Hollywood and stopped in the center of A1A at Evans Street.
At that point, BSO said, Purdue got out of his truck and started walking toward the deputies. Swearing at a deputy and a sergeant, the agitated man told the officers they would have to shoot him.
Moschella said when the man reached behind his back, the BSO deputies opened fire.
"At some point, the deputies perceived the same threat and opened fire," Moschella said.
Purdue died at the scene.
Sgt. Tom McPartland and Dep. Ray Herrera were automatically placed on administrative leave, and an internal affairs investigation is underway.
