Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a suspect Tuesday evening after authorities said he shot a man multiple times at a Walmart in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.
According to authorities, 22-year-old Tironie Shavar Sterling is facing charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery by sudden snatching.
Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Claudinne Caro said BSO deputies received a call about a shooting around 2 p.m. inside the Walmart, located at 3001 N. State Road 7.
Carts could be seen in the parking lot overturned as people ran out of the store in a panic.
Walmart customers who dropped everything to escape the gunfire returned to the store this morning to collect their belongings.
“I was at the cash register and we heard some shots,” said Walmart customer Modupe Williams. “I just heard the shots and the shots were coming from the back of the store.”
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials confirmed the victim was airlifted to Broward Health Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds. He would later die at the hospital.
Family members identified the victim as 38-year-old Thierry Bastien.
According to BSO spokeswoman Carey Codd, the preliminary investigation revealed that on Tuesday afternoon, Sterling arrived at the Walmart, where he works but was off, to meet with a female employee.
Once there, deputies said Sterling and the female employee became involved in an argument which escalated to a physical encounter.
According to Codd, during the physical encounter, Sterling dropped a gun on the floor and attempted to steal the woman’s cellphone.
Authorities said as the confrontation between Sterling and the woman escalated further, an adult male customer stepped in, attempting to assist her.
BSO deputies said Sterling and the customer became involved in a physical altercation which led Sterling to pick up his gun and shoot the good Samaritan multiple times. Sterling then fled the location on a scooter, authorities said.
Nearly three hours later, BSO’s SWAT, Fugitive and V.I.P.E.R. (Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response) units arrested Sterling, according to Codd.
Shavar appeared in bond court Wednesday afternoon where a Broward County judge held him without bond for both counts of first-degree murder and attempted robbery with a firearm.
The judge also ordered that Sterling is to have no contact with the victims involved in the shooting.
He faces life in prison if convicted.
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