Broward County dispatched assistance teams Thursday to counsel employees shocked by the overnight deaths of two co-workers who were shot and killed at a county transit maintenance center on Copans Road in Pompano Beach.
“This is a tragic loss of life,” Mayor Nan Rich said in a statement. “Our Broward County family grieves the loss of these two transit employees. Let us keep their memories in our thoughts and prayers as we process this terrible loss.”
The county said bus operations will run as scheduled although there may be “some delays or minor interruptions because of the ongoing investigations at our facility.”
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a shooting near the 3200 block of West Copans Road shortly before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
While enroute, they were advised that a man had been shot and an armed individual was possibly still in the area, according to a BSO statement early Thursday.
Deputies encountered an armed man at the location who fired at them They returned fire, a spokesperson said, and the suspect was shot and died at the scene. Detectives later learned the suspect had shot and killed his co-worker prior to the encounter, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Both the victim, a 42-year-old man, and the suspect, 59, were employees at Broward County Mass Transit. Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Crime scene, homicide and internal affairs detectives were on scene early Thursday investigating the death that occurred before the deputy-involved shooting, while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the fatal deputy-involved shooting.
The three deputies involved were placed on administrative assignment, per standard policy.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life in our Broward County family,” said Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero. “On behalf of County Administration and our Board of County Commissioners, we extend our most heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, coworkers and loved ones during this very difficult time.”
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