Canadian man shot dead during Florida standoff
Written by on February 10th, 2012 in Latest News.
A Canadian man is dead after what police are calling a “bizarre ordeal” at a Deerfield Beach, Fla., campground that involved a seven-hour standoff and also claimed the life of a nine-year-ancient boy.
The shooter killed himself and critically wounded a woman and a seven-year-ancient boy, reported to be his wife and son.
Florida news outlets have identified the man who died as a Canadian who has been a resident in the park for a some time.
Normand Robert, a Quebec man who lives in the park and witnessed the standoff, told Quebec television station LCN that the male victim was originally from Montreal and was well known at the campground.
Police were called after a shooting at the park was reported at around 6:20 p.m. Thursday, according to the Broward sheriff’s office.
When officers arrived, they saw a man lying unresponsive on the pavement.
The suspect, who was in a recreational vehicle not far from the victim, told police he was holding a woman hostage and he would kill her if they approached.
Police couldn’t reach the injured man and tried to talk the suspect into surrendering. He refused.
Woman and boy in critical condition
By the time the SWAT team was able to reach the victim, he was already dead. Police believe he was not known to the shooter.
Police said at around 7:30 p.m., a woman was released from the RV unharmed.
She told officers that the suspect’s wife and two sons were with him inside.
After several hours of trying unsuccessfully to make contact with the shooter, the SWAT team went into the trailer at around 1:30 a.m.
They found the shooter, identified by The Associated Press as a Florida man, and the boy dead and the other two injured.
The woman and the boy were taken to hospital and were in critical condition.
The park is reportedly well loved with Canadians visiting Florida in the winter.
Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
