Triple Shooting Outside Fort Lauderdale Wawa Leaves Three Injured; Police Say Suspects Are in Custody
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Thursday evening shooting outside a Wawa gas station in Fort Lauderdale left three people injured and a community shaken after what witnesses described as a rapid and public exchange of gunfire. The shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Wawa located near the 6100 block of Northwest Ninth Avenue, just off West Cypress Creek Road and Powerline Road, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. A large police presence descended on the scene as emergency calls came in reporting multiple gunshots.
What We Know So Far
Police confirmed that three adults were injured in the incident. Two of the victims were transported to Broward Health Medical Center, one as a trauma alert and another with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A third victim declined medical transport, according to first responders at the scene. No fatalities have been reported at this time, and authorities have stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Police also confirmed that suspects are in custody, though as of Friday morning, no arrests had been formally announced or identified by name. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.
Witness Accounts Paint a Chaotic Scene
One witness, Terri Williams, told Local 10 News that she was on a FaceTime call when she witnessed the gunfire unfold. Williams, who had her 1-year-old brother in the car with her, described a harrowing and traumatic scene.
“He’s crying and saying ‘pow, pow.’ That traumatized him a lot,” Williams said.
“It happened in broad daylight — so openly. He was defenseless and screaming for help.”
According to Williams, a man walked up to a white BMW parked in the lot and opened fire, unloading at least ten shots into the vehicle.
“He just walked up and started shooting at the man while the man was sitting in his car with the door closed and the window up,” she said.
“He tried to run away, but somehow the gentleman was able to fire back and ended up shooting him in the leg.”
Another witness, Theresa Petersen, was eating at a nearby Arby’s when the shots rang out. Moments later, she said a man entered the restaurant, visibly shaken and with blood on his hands.
“He said they started shooting and he just ran,” Petersen recalled.
“We don’t know what transpired for that to happen.”
Wawa Staff Responds, Police Investigate
Employees at the Wawa location told Local 10 that they were grateful for the quick response from local law enforcement and are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
“We’re thankful no employees were hurt and that officers arrived quickly,” one staff member said off camera.
As of Friday morning, Fort Lauderdale Police have not released the names of the individuals involved, nor have they updated the conditions of the hospitalized victims. The investigation remains open and active, and police are urging anyone with video footage or information about the incident to contact detectives.
Community Response and Next Steps
The shooting has reignited concerns about public safety in Broward County, particularly given that the incident took place in broad daylight at a well-trafficked location. While police say the incident does not pose an ongoing threat, the sheer brazenness of the attack has left locals rattled. With witnesses suggesting that the shooting may have involved some form of return fire, law enforcement may now be navigating a potentially complex legal situation, one that involves both victims and suspects possibly exchanging gunfire.
