Fort Lauderdale authorities are investigating a shooting incident that left a 14-year-old boy injured early Thursday morning. The incident, which occurred near Club Euro in downtown Fort Lauderdale, is the latest in a series of holiday shootings in Broward County.
According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, officers were present in the vicinity of Southwest Second Street and Nugent Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday in relation to an event the teenager was attending. Witness Jared Peter recounted hearing a single gunshot and initially believing the victim had been shot in the arm, before realizing the injury was to the chest.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the 14-year-old was on the street outside an event when an unidentified individual opened fire, striking him. Peter described a chaotic scene with “people running all over the place” amidst a large crowd of teenagers.
Club Euro, a local entertainment venue, had posted a video showing police presence hours before the shooting took place. The club had hosted an all-ages event that concluded approximately 30 minutes prior to the incident.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue paramedics responded to the scene and transported the wounded teenager to Broward Health Medical Center. Authorities reported his injuries as non-life-threatening, and he is expected to recover.
Spoday, the organizer of the event, expressed sadness regarding the shooting outside the venue. She stated that despite employing ten security guards and police detail due to anticipated high attendance, external incidents remain unpredictable. Spoday emphasized the event’s priority on the safety of attendees.
As of Thursday evening, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing. Detectives were observed thoroughly searching the area for evidence. The shooter remains at large, and law enforcement is urging anyone with information to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.
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