National Park Service reports ‘active shooter’ at Everglades National Park

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WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. — Officials at Everglades National Park reported an ‘active shooter’ who was firing on rangers Sunday evening. The suspect was later taken into custody.

“Active shooter incident happening at Everglades NP,” an alert said. “Main park road (SR 9336) closed for public safety. Visitors/residents in Flamingo should shelter in place. Suspect is a 33 y.o. white male. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating the response.”

“There are no injuries to report as of now. Suspect fired at park rangers unprovoked.”

According to WLPG, a “man at the park was stopped by law enforcement and then began shooting at park rangers.” It was unclear why he was stopped in the first place.

The suspect remained at large for over an hour before park officials announced the incident was ‘resolved.’

The following is a summary of events from the National Park Service:

On March 28 at 6:45 p.m., a 33-year-old white male suspect fired shots at law enforcement rangers along the main park road on State Road 9336, approximately 20 miles from the Homestead entrance. A multi-agency response was initiated. The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody at 8:59 p.m. No one was injured.

 

Earlier in the day, two park rangers responded to a domestic violence investigation at Mahogany Hammock, involving the same suspect. When the rangers arrived, the suspect had left the scene in his vehicle and was believed to be headed south toward Flamingo. At 5:52 p.m., rangers located the empty vehicle on the main park road, just south of Paurotis Pond. Given the evidence found on scene, the rangers suspected that the subject had fled into the woods and was armed.

 

With the assistance of Miami-Dade Police Department, the park closed the Homestead entrance to the park on State Road 9336. Public safety notifications and updates were posted on the park’s Twitter account and emailed to local news desks and reporters.

 

State Road 9336 remains closed from the park entrance to Flamingo at this time.

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