Name Of Man Killed In Deputy-Involved Shooting Released
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OAKLAND PARK (CBSMiami) – The Broward Sheriff's Office released the name of the man who died in a deputy involved shooting in Oakland Park on Tuesday.
The afternoon shooting happened in front of the Floranada apartment building where the sheriff says 24-year-old Joseph Fuller got into a confrontation with BSO deputy Clyde Davis who has been with the department for over 21 years.
Sheriff Scott Israel said the shooting followed two incidents earlier in the day when they say Fuller was pulled over twice and fled.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., a deputy was on his way to work when he spotted a man driving recklessly southbound on I-95 near Cypress Creek Road. The deputy pulled the driver, later identified as Fuller, over on Commercial Boulevard. Before he could be taken into custody for violation of probation and several traffic infractions, Fuller drove off.
After running the driver's vehicle tag, deputies learned that Fuller lived in Oakland Park. Shortly after noon, a deputy spotted Fuller's vehicle heading southbound on Dixie Highway south of Floranada Road. When the deputy attempted to pull him over, Fuller fled again.
Around 2:30 p.m., detectives followed Fuller to the Floranada Apartment complex in the 1300 block of NE 50th Court and again tried to take him into custody.
When Detective Davis tried to get Fuller to surrender, he refused to get out of his vehicle, according to BSO.
The suspect was at gunpoint," said Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. "Instead of complying the suspect reached between his legs. Our deputy reached out to see what the suspect was grabbing. The suspect was grabbing a large-caliber revolver. A struggle ensued. Our deputy was forced to fire."
Fuller, who was shot multiple times, was rushed as a trauma alert to Broward Health Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Fuller was released from Florida prison last October after serving time for a drug charge carrying a concealed weapon and shooting into a building.
Late Tuesday, two of Fuller's friends said they wish deputies had handled the situation differently.
"(My friend) did not fire his weapon so, I understand he took off on the police twice already but I mean there's other ways to go about things," said Brittany who didn't want her last name used in this story.
Brittany said she spoke with Fuller Tuesday morning and he told her that he fled from a deputy in the early morning hours.
So why did Fuller run from the law?
Another friend, Stephen Henry, said Fuller had spent time in prison and told him that he did not want to go back.
Deputy Davis is on administrative duty as part of department policy.
