Woman, 11-Year-Old Injured In Downtown Fort Lauderdale Shooting
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – An 11-year-old boy and a woman were injured during a shooting Saturday in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
"They're two innocent victims. Just minding their business. Wrong place at the wrong time," Fort Lauderdale Police Asst. Chief Frank Sousa said.
Both were wounded in a busy area right across the street from Broward Central Bus Terminal and near Fort Lauderdale City Hall.
It's unclear if there was a small gathering near a table, chairs and barbecue grill in the area when bullets went flying around 6:30 Saturday evening.
"There was some sort of disturbance here at NW 1 St and 1 Ave where eventually where that disturbance escalated into gunfire," Sousa said.
Investigators didn't immediately say where the woman and child were hurt. But officers did have a few devices with them to help their injuries until they arrived at the hospital.
"Officers immediately began life saving measures by applying a tourniquet and chest seals to the victims and making sure the path was clear for EMS to be able to take those victims to the hospital," the assistant chief said.
Police said through their investigation they learned the shooting happened during an altercation between two men.
Officers said during the fight another man retrieved a gun from a vehicle and provided it to one of the men, who began shooting.
Detectives have identified the male that provided the gun to the shooter as 60-year-old Stanley Johnson of Lauderhill.
Johnson, who police said confessed to his involvement in the shooting, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On top of the evidence found at the scene, investigators are also leaning on the eyes and ears of the community to help them make an arrest.
"We implore members of the public or anyone who may have witnessed this to please come forward. This is a senseless shooting that should not have happened where ultimately impacting a young child who was out here innocently," Sousa said.
Police have not told us if the woman and child are related.
At last check, the woman and boy were in stable condition at Broward Health Medical Center.
If you know anything, call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
