Broward deputies and a ‘violent’ man armed with high-powered rifles exchange gunfire
A Broward neighborhood lined with homes was the backdrop of a dangerous shooutout Tuesday night between Broward deputies and a man with a “violent” past. Armed with high-powered rifles, nearly two dozen gunshots rang out as the two parties opened fire at each other.
“If someone is going to bring a gunfight into this community, we are going to win every single one,” Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said in a Wednesday news conference.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m., the Broward Sheriff’s Office was fielding several alerts, from 911 callers and Shot Spotter, that someone was shooting a weapon near the 700 block of Northwest Fifth Avenue in Pompano Beach.
As deputies raced to the area to discern what was happening, authorities learned the suspect could be Scott Simonelli, a 51-year-old with a checkered past, Tony said.
A deputy who recognized the name from a previous encounter radioed in a warning: Simonelli is “violent” and could be dangerous. Be prepared.
Tony noted that warning potentially saved the lives of his deputies, who were about to walk into a life-threatening situation.
When deputies arrived, they found Simonelli armed with a semi-automatic rifle. One of the deputy’s flashlights accidentally went off, giving away their position, Tony said. Simonelli took this opportunity to open fire on them.
Two deputies took cover, aimed at him and returned fire. At least 16 rounds went off, ending with Simonelli being shot at least three times and the deputies uninjured. They provided first aid immediately, and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue took him to the hospital.
“Regardless if people are trying to kill us...we have a responsibility to treat and aid them,” he said.
He survived his injuries, Tony said, and is being charged with one count of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer and two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
According to a preliminary investigation, Simonelli may have been threatening a family in the neighborhood by shooting at their roof and then into a window before deputies arrived, Tony said
He may face more charges, as Tony emphasized the sheriff’s office will ensure he spends the rest of his life in prison.
The two deputies who shot at Simonelli were placed on administrative assignment as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates.
“Anyone who will shoot rounds at our officers...our focal point is to put them down permanently,” he said.
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Last year, Simonelli was criminally charged for a domestic dispute in which he allegedly pulled out a gun while arguing with a neighbor and her child, according to court records.
Similarly, in 2021, Simonelli was involved in another domestic dispute where he allegedly attacked a person he knew and threatened to kill them while he pointed a gun in their direction.
Again, in 2017, he was alleged to have choked and banged his sister’s head on the floor.
All three cases were ultimately dropped.
In 2009, he was made to pay fees and given one day of probation on drug charges. As part of the resolution of that case, a semi-automatic handgun was returned to him.
Tony said Simonelli had been Backer Acted in the past, meaning giving a person emergency mental services by temporarily detaining them at a medical facility for 72 hours.
It was unclear if weapons had been seized during that altercation or what triggered the need for mental services.
This story was originally published August 28, 2024 at 5:39 PM.
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