Intense body camera footage shows Florida deputies’ fatal shootout with murder suspect
Content warning: The video attached to this story may not be suitable for some viewers. The footage depicts the sights and sounds of gunfire.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Body camera footage shows the moment deputies with the Broward Sheriff’s Office got into an intense shootout with a Broward County Transit employee accused of fatally shooting a coworker in Pompano Beach.
The video, released by the Broward Sheriff’s Office on Friday, shows deputies exchanging gunfire with the suspect at a Broward Transit maintenance facility on Wednesday night.
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Authorities said the suspect, Transit employee Rafael A. Molina, shot and killed his coworker, Warren Chambers, following an argument. The sheriff’s office said surveillance video showed Molina waiting outside while his coworker changed clothes at the facility.
Once Chambers left the “locker room,” Molina removed a gun from a lunch box and “executed” him, according to Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony.
“It’s crystal clear he’s waiting, he waited for quite some time for his colleague to change out and come out in his clothes and then he shot and executed him,” Tony said.
Sheriff Tony also said Molina used a hammer to smash a cell phone before positioning himself in an “ambush position” inside of a bus before the shootout.
“We witnessed him walk and strategically place himself in an ambush position inside of a bus that was vacant and being prepared in waiting for our deputies or the next victim to cross his path,” Tony said.
The sheriff’s office said Molina fired six shots at deputies, who fired nearly 50 times at Molina between the three deputies involved.
The deputies have been identified as 44-year-old Sgt. Noel Mercado, 31-year-old Deputy Joseph Sherbo, and 30-year-old Deputy Richard Delgaudio.
“I intend to put the Medal of Honor around all three of them, it’s the most courageous thing I’ve seen,” Tony said.
All three deputies have been on administrative assignment as the investigation continues.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.
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