Three people, including a suspect, are dead, and a Palm Beach County deputy was hospitalized after a violent crime spree in Pahokee on Wednesday night, according to authorities.
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 stated that deputies received a call around 10:05 p.m. reporting two persons had been shot at a residence. About nine minutes later, another call was received reporting shots fired at a nearby home by someone driving a dark SUV.
At 10:18 p.m., authorities said the suspect proceeded to a convenience store about a half-mile away and shot someone. The person was evacuated to St. Mary’s Medical Center and is likely to survive.
Shortly later, when a deputy was setting up crime scene tape at the original double homicide scene, McCloud allegedly returned, accelerated his vehicle off the road, and struck the officer, knocking him 40 feet back, according to Bradshaw.
According to investigators, McCloud left the truck armed with a weapon and approached the injured deputy. The deputy was able to grab his weapon and shot McCloud before the suspect could fire at him. A neighboring detective also fired several rounds, but officials say McCloud was already dead.
Authorities claimed McCloud died at the scene.
The deputy was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center via helicopter after suffering a compound ankle fracture and other minor injuries. As of Thursday morning, officials said both the deputy and the convenience store gunshot victim were expected to recover.
Authorities have yet to announce the names of the two victims killed in the initial incident, as well as the identify of the injured deputy. The investigation is underway.
