Mother Of Murder Victim In Lauderhill Home Invasion Speaks Out

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – More than 40 police evidence markers littered the outside of a Lauderhill apartment early Tuesday morning as police investigated a deadly home invasion.

The mother of the man who was murdered is speaking out.

She told CBS4’s Peter D’Oench, “That was my first son. There is no need for a mother to be burying their first child. I really don’t know what is going on. My son was a very fun-loving person. My son was not a bad person. That’s what I want people to know and understand. There was no reason for this to happen. No reason at all. He had no enemies at all. He meant the world to me and my family.”

She said she did not want to give her name or her son’s name but she said “Detectives are taking care of this. I am holding on to what they are doing. I’m am holding on to that too. We know those detectives will be here.”

Nearly a dozen loved ones and friends went to the apartment complex looking for answers and to comfort the mother.

It happened just before 2 a.m. at the Windermere Apartments at 52nd Avenue and SW 18th Street.

Police said their officers heard gunshots and were flagged down by a man at the apartment entrance who had been shot in the leg.

“I heard multiple gunshots but I didn’t look out,” said one resident.

The injured man told investigators that a group of armed men entered his unit demanding “stuff” and shots were fired.

D’Oench caught up with him after he was released from the hospital. He was on crutches and said he did not want to say anything at all about the incident or why he was wounded.

When police went to the apartment they found the body of a man who had been shot.

“When we approached the victim at the front gate, he was somewhat incoherent. He was suffering, obviously from a traumatic wound, and he was in and out. So he was telling us what he could at the time,” said Lauderhill Police Lt. Mike Santiago.

Santiago said the man told the officers that some individuals had stormed his residence and gunfire erupted, he said he was shot in the leg when he fled the apartment.

The man told the officers the it happened in Building 5209 – apartment 2.

“When the officers arrived they opened the front door, which was unlocked, and discovered a body right in the entrance of the apartment,” said Santiago.

Police said the injured man didn’t specify what the intruders demanded or what they took.

Anyone with information that can help Lauderhill police should call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477).

There is a reward of up to $3,000.

Lauderhill Police say they are looking for at least two suspects and are getting a search warrant to go into the apartment.

They have not identified the victims.