Man identified in shooting that left mother and her three children dead in Pembroke Park: BSO
Authorities on Thursday identified the alleged shooter in a quadruple attempted murder suicide, which left a mother and three of her children dead on Wednesday evening in Broward County.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies identified the accused shooter as 34-year-old Stephen McKenzie. They say he shot and killed Julie Cruz, 32, and their two children Nova and Emery McKenzie, both 2 years old, at an apartment complex in Pembroke Park, near Hallandale Beach.
Cruz’s other children were also shot. Xion Solomon, 11, was one of the children found dead at the scene. Phiinyx Solomon, 8, survived the shooting but remains in serious condition, BSO said.
McKenzie also survived the attempted murder-suicide.
“A family is hurting, and their hearts are broken, and they’re going through something unspeakable,” BSO spokeswoman Claudinne Caro said on Thursday. “They lost several family members.”
Around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday, Pembroke Park police officers rushed to reports of shots fired in the area of 3100 West Hallandale Beach Boulevard, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said. When the officers arrived at the apartment, Cruz and three of her children were already dead.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane told the Miami Herald McKenzie was taken to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital and the young girl was taken to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. They’re both suffering life-threatening injuries from gunshot wounds.
At the apartment complex, a woman sprinted past police tape, screaming repeatedly, “That’s my daughter.”
A Broward Sheriff’s deputy intercepted her with a bear hug as she still tried to push toward the complex. The deputy then held the woman, as she cried into his arms.
He gently pulled her away.
Pembroke Park Police Department asked BSO to take over the investigation.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 8:49 PM with the headline "Man identified in shooting that left mother and her three children dead in Pembroke Park: BSO."
%20Cropped%20(2).jpg)