A Broward Transit employee is dead after he was involved in a shootout with Broward Sheriff's Office deputies after fatally shooting his coworker in Pompano Beach late Wednesday night, officials said.
BSO officials said deputies responded to reports of a shooting near the 3200 block of West Copans Road shortly before 11:30 p.m.
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While deputies were arriving to the scene, they were told that a man had been shot and that the shooter was possibly still in the area, officials said.
As deputies arrived, they found the armed suspect, who fired at the deputies, officials said.
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The deputies returned fire, killing the 59-year-old suspect at the scene.
Detectives learned the suspect shot and killed his 42-year-old coworker prior to the shootout.
Both men were employees at Broward County Mass Transit and worked at a one of the county's maintenance centers, officials said.
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Authorities haven't released the names of the gunman or his co-worker, but family members identified the victim as Warren Chambers.
"We are deeply saddened by the horrific loss of our beloved family member. He was a devoted father, son, grandchild, nephew, brother, cousin, friend and so much more to so many. To know him, was a gift. To be loved and cared for by him was a blessing," Chambers' family said in a statement Thursday. "As we attempt to deal with the shock and unbearable grief of this incident, we ask for privacy to mourn."
BSO spokesperson Veda Coleman-Wright said it's believed the first shooting happened around the end of the workers' shift.
"After the shooting, they learned that this armed individual had gotten into some type of, I don't know if it was an argument or a dispute, but he actually shot and killed one of his coworkers prior to the deputies making contact with him," Coleman-Wright said.
Cell phone video from the time of the incident captured the gunshots exchanged between the gunman and deputies.
A witness that worked inside the facility told NBC6 in Spanish that it was terrifying inside the building at the time of the shooting.
"I’m shocked, I would have never thought something like this would have happened here," Alejandro Peniro said.
BSO crime scene, homicide and internal affairs detectives are on scene investigating the murder that happened before the deputy-involved shooting.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the fatal deputy-involved shooting, which is standard practice.
Per BSO policy, the three deputies involved were placed on administrative assignment as the investigation continues.
In a statement Thursday, Broward County officials said employee assistance teams were sent to be with employees affected by the shooting.
"This is a tragic loss of life. Our Broward County family grieves the loss of these two transit employees. Let us keep their memories in our thoughts and prayers as we process this terrible loss," Broward Mayor Nan Rich said in a statement.
Officials said bus operations will run as scheduled Thursday but there could be some delays because of the investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back with NBC6 for updates.
