Fort Lauderdale cops say the man who they fatally shot held family member at gunpoint
Fort Lauderdale police said the man who officers fatally shot Wednesday morning had a gun and was holding a family member hostage.
The grandfather of 21-year-old Jaylen Moore originally called 911 for an ambulance saying his grandson was having a mental health crisis, but later called back asking for police because the young man had a gun, according to audio of the call released by Fort Lauderdale police.
“I didn’t know the damn boy had a pistol in the house,” the grandfather, whom police did not name, told the 911 operator.
Detective Ali Adamson, a department spokeswoman, said that when officers arrived at the home at the 300 block of Southwest 25th Avenue around 10:45 a.m., Moore walked out holding the family member at gunpoint.
“The male continued to endanger those around him, including the officers, and officers were forced to engage him,” Adamson said.
Three officers fired their weapons, Adamson said. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue paramedics took Moore to Broward Health Medical Center, where he died, Adamson said.
When the grandfather first called 911, he requested that only Fire Rescue paramedics come “because the police just might make things worse.”
However, when the man realized Moore had the weapon, he called back and asked for police. But, before he called back, paramedics had already arrived, saw Moore was armed and left to wait for officers, according to the 911 calls.
The grandfather said he went outside the house to get away from Moore.
A woman also called 911 from a nearby home saying that her sister called her and was inside the house with her 6-month-old baby. The woman also told the operator that Moore had a gun.
Police have not released the familial relationship between Moore and the mother and child.
As with all cases in which police shoot someone, the case is now under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Adamson said.
“In accordance with departmental policy, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of FDLE’s investigation and an internal review,” said Adamson.
