FLORIDA — Three people, including a suspect, are dead and a Palm Beach County deputy is hospitalized following a violent crime spree Wednesday night in Pahokee, authorities said.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Charles McCloud Jr..
During an overnight news conference near the Doveland Villas area, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said deputies first received a call around 10:05 p.m. reporting two people had been shot at a residence. About nine minutes later, another call came in reporting shots fired at a nearby home by someone driving a dark SUV.
At approximately 10:18 p.m., authorities said the suspect went to a convenience store about half a mile away and shot another person. That victim was airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center and is expected to survive.
Shortly afterward, as a deputy was putting up crime scene tape at the original double homicide scene, McCloud allegedly returned, accelerated his vehicle off the roadway and struck the deputy, knocking him back about 40 feet, Bradshaw said.
Investigators said McCloud exited the vehicle armed with a handgun and approached the injured deputy. The deputy was able to draw his firearm and shoot McCloud before the suspect could fire at him. A nearby detective also fired several rounds, but officials said McCloud was already down.
McCloud died at the scene, authorities said.
The deputy suffered a compound ankle fracture and other minor injuries and was flown by helicopter to St. Mary’s Medical Center. As of Thursday morning, officials said both the deputy and the convenience store shooting victim are expected to recover.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the two people killed in the initial shooting or the identity of the injured deputy. The investigation remains ongoing.
