On Thursday morning, a police officer was shot outside a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The officer was quickly taken to a hospital and is currently in stable condition, with authorities stating that he is expected to recover. The suspected gunman has been apprehended, as confirmed by Fort Lauderdale police at 10:23 a.m.
Despite the incident, officials have clarified that there is no ongoing active shooter situation in the area. However, specific details regarding the shooting remain limited at this time.
The intersection of 17th Street and 15th Avenue, where the Holiday Inn is situated, has been cordoned off in all directions as part of the investigation. Armored trucks and numerous police vehicles have been deployed to the scene.
An eyewitness, a hotel guest named Alexis Boettcher visiting from Cleveland, described the chaos that ensued following the shooting, which seemed to have originated on the hotel's pool deck above the parking garage. Guests were quickly ushered into a secure area within the hotel premises.
Fort Lauderdale, currently experiencing a busier-than-usual spring break season, has seen an increase in visitors due to Miami Beach's altered March festivities. Law enforcement has not indicated any connection between the shooting and the spring break activities in the area.
Prior to this incident, Fort Lauderdale police reported a total of 13 spring break-related arrests from March 1 to 17, noting an overall peaceful season with no significant issues until this recent event.
