BSO: Tow Truck Driver Shot Dead In Dispute With Car Owner
LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBS4) - A tow truck driver was shot dead Tuesday afternoon as he attempted to remove unauthorized cars from a Lauderdale Lakes apartment complex. BSO says the owner of a car about to be towed opened fire on the tow truck driver, shooting him several times.
Deputies reported to the St. Croix apartments at 4150 NW 34 Street just before 3 p.m. after receiving a report of shots fired.
When they arrived, they found the victim, David Herr, 36, with gunshot wounds and a man with a gun still on the scene. BSO says the suspect opened fire on deputies and at least one deputy fired back, injuring the shooter The shooter, whose name has not been released, was transported to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition.
BSO said Herr was an employee of All County Towing, which was hired by the apartment building management to remove vehicles that were not authorized to be on the property.
Herr's friends and family arrived on scene and consoled each other. Herr was described as a man working to provide for his family killed while doing his job.
"Could have been any number of reasons why you're gonna tow a car and you're gonna kill somebody over that?" said friend and fellow tow truck driver, Kevin Godfrey.
Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said deputies barely made it on scene before they became targets.
"When our deputies exited their vehicle they immediately took on gunfire," Israel told reporters.
David Herr's ex-wife, Christie Owens rushed to the scene. She said she's always worried about the dangers of the tow truck business.
"I begged him to quit," she said.
As deputies recovered evidence, David Herr's friends and family reflected on a man's life cut short and what he meant to them.
"The best guy you'll ever know," said Godfrey. "It's sad. It really is."
The deputy who fired their weapon will be placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
Several tow truck drivers explained that the confrontation could have been avoided for $50. They said that is the amount the owner of the car would have had to pay to have the tow truck driver drop the car and move on under a county ordinance.
