SUNRISE, Florida (AP) – Several FBI agents were shot on Tuesday morning while serving a warrant in a child exploitation case in South Florida, officials said. The suspect appeared to be inside a unit of an apartment complex, surrounded by police officers.
A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that several FBI agents were shot while carrying out the warrant and that the extent of his injuries was not immediately known. The officer was unable to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson was informed of the shooting and was closely monitoring the situation on Tuesday, a Justice Department spokesman said.
The shooting started with about four shots around 6 am, said Julius McLymont, whose house borders the Water Terrace apartment complex.
“Boom boom boom boom,” he said.
He thought it was a car backfire, but about two minutes later he heard another burst of about five shots. He got out and looked over the fence when police cars and ambulances ran in. Then he saw policemen working on someone lying on the floor, who was put in an ambulance.
A SWAT team appeared next, with police officers in shock suits. Then they came around the building, shouting “go, go, go”.
McLymont said he could not see the apartment where the shooting happened from its location.
Authorities did not immediately release any information about the suspect, who was said to have remained inside the house surrounded by police officers.
Another large contingent of police officers gathered in front of a Fort Lauderdale hospital where the victims were taken, according to a television video.
The Sunrise Police Department tweeted about the strong police presence and the closing of surrounding roads.
The shooting took place at Water Terrace, a multi-unit residential complex. Hours later, the Sunrise Police asked residents to stay indoors and be patient while the police blocked their community’s entrances.
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Balsamo contributed from Washington. Frieda Frisaro contributed from Fort Lauderdale.