Firemedic 61
03-03-2008, 07:31 PM
Two are dead, including a lieutenant with Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue.
Four people remain hospitalized in critical condition.
There were 10 or 15 people inside the Wendy's near West Palm Beach on the corner of Okeechobee and Cherry when the shooting began.
All the shooting victims were customers, no employees were wounded.
What sparked the shooting is not clear.
Eyewitnesses describe the gunman as a middle-aged black man wearing a shirt, tie, sneakers and a baseball cap.
The gunman walked into the Wendy's just after noon and went to the men's room. When he came out, he had a gun in his hand a walked up to the lieutenant, who was at the counter, and shot him at point blank.
He then opened fire into the dining room.
Some customers fled the scene, others tried to find cover. Witnesses say it was mass confusion, everyone was screaming. Some people left their cars in the drive-thru and parking lot.
After firing about 15 or 20 shots inside the restaurant, investigators say the gunman then pointed the gun at his head, pulled the trigger, and took his own life. A total of 6 people were shot. Two of the victims died, including the gunman. Three others were rushed to area hospitals in critical condition.
The lieutenant has not been named yet, but we're told he's a 42-years old who has been with the department since 2001. He was promoted in January and is married to a police officer with the Village of Palm Springs.
He was attending a mandatory class at fire rescue offices and was on lunch break. He was at Wendy's with his wife and child and had left the restaurant just before the shootings began. The lieutenant went back into the building to retrieve a kids meal toy, when he was shot. The lieutenant was not in uniform.
The other victims include, a 43-year-old male who is at St. Mary's hospital in stable condition, a 16-year-old girl who was shot in the arm and should be alright, and a couple in their 60's who are a at Delray Medical Center with non life threatening injuries. The 16-year-old girl was eating lunch with her mother when the shootings happened.
Police found a 9mm on the floor in the restaurant and magazine next to it on the ground.
The gunman has been identified as Alburn Blake of West Palm Beach.
This is why all law abiding Floridains should have a conceled weapons permit.
Four people remain hospitalized in critical condition.
There were 10 or 15 people inside the Wendy's near West Palm Beach on the corner of Okeechobee and Cherry when the shooting began.
All the shooting victims were customers, no employees were wounded.
What sparked the shooting is not clear.
Eyewitnesses describe the gunman as a middle-aged black man wearing a shirt, tie, sneakers and a baseball cap.
The gunman walked into the Wendy's just after noon and went to the men's room. When he came out, he had a gun in his hand a walked up to the lieutenant, who was at the counter, and shot him at point blank.
He then opened fire into the dining room.
Some customers fled the scene, others tried to find cover. Witnesses say it was mass confusion, everyone was screaming. Some people left their cars in the drive-thru and parking lot.
After firing about 15 or 20 shots inside the restaurant, investigators say the gunman then pointed the gun at his head, pulled the trigger, and took his own life. A total of 6 people were shot. Two of the victims died, including the gunman. Three others were rushed to area hospitals in critical condition.
The lieutenant has not been named yet, but we're told he's a 42-years old who has been with the department since 2001. He was promoted in January and is married to a police officer with the Village of Palm Springs.
He was attending a mandatory class at fire rescue offices and was on lunch break. He was at Wendy's with his wife and child and had left the restaurant just before the shootings began. The lieutenant went back into the building to retrieve a kids meal toy, when he was shot. The lieutenant was not in uniform.
The other victims include, a 43-year-old male who is at St. Mary's hospital in stable condition, a 16-year-old girl who was shot in the arm and should be alright, and a couple in their 60's who are a at Delray Medical Center with non life threatening injuries. The 16-year-old girl was eating lunch with her mother when the shootings happened.
Police found a 9mm on the floor in the restaurant and magazine next to it on the ground.
The gunman has been identified as Alburn Blake of West Palm Beach.
This is why all law abiding Floridains should have a conceled weapons permit.