Broward County

Police officers shot at while investigating ‘suspicious’ car in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale police officers were shot at while investigating a suspicious car. No injuries were reported, and three suspects were arrested.
Fort Lauderdale police officers were shot at while investigating a suspicious car. No injuries were reported, and three suspects were arrested. Fort Lauderdale Police Department

Checking out a “suspicious car” in Fort Lauderdale Thursday nearly took a deadly turn for police officers when they were shot at, authorities said.

Around 2:20 p.m., Fort Lauderdale police officers tried to stop a “suspicious vehicle” in the 1000 block of Northwest Third Avenue.

Three people jumped out of the car and began shooting at the officers, according to authorities. Police say 20-year-old Robert Lee Earl Scott, 23-year-old Myron Sinclair and 20-year-old Devontay Drake Mayes had attempted an armed robbery moments before the shooting.

No one was hit, and the officers did not shoot back.

After a short police chase, the car stopped less than two miles away, and the three were arrested.

They have been charged with one count of attempted robbery, one count of fleeing and eluding and three counts of attempted murder against law enforcement.

During the pursuit a police car crashed into a civilian car, authorities said. Two officers were taken to Broward Health Medical Center as a precaution and are expected to be okay.

Miami Herald writer Milena Malaver contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 4:50 PM.

Devoun Cetoute
Miami Herald
Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.
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