Elderly Woman Struck By Bullet Fired During Altercation Between Carnival Workers At Nearby Broward Fair

MARGATE (CBSMiami) – Gunfire erupted early Thursday morning between two carnival employees just hours before the opening of the Broward County Fair and a 91-year-old woman living in a nearby senior living facility was struck by a bullet.

According to Margate police, there was a disturbance between two employees around 4:30 a.m. at 1000 State Road 7.

During the altercation, one of the employees pulled a gun on the other.

According to Andrew Preston of Worldwide LLC, the independent game operator for the Broward Fair, the two men were arguing over a woman, when one pulled out his gun in a jealous rage and fired into the air.

Police said two shots were fired and one of the bullets traveled into the room of the nearby Waterside Landing Senior Living Facility and struck a resident.

A spokeswoman for the facility said no one there wanted to comment.

Margate Mayor Antonio Arserio told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "This is a serious situation, I can't talk too much about it right now. It is an ongoing situation. But my thoughts and prayers go out to the woman and her family. We have been talking with the operator and the city and we believe this was an isolated incident. We will have a police presence here for the entirety of the far and we know there will not be another incident."

The 91-year-old woman was transported by Margate Fire Rescue to Broward Health North with non-life-threatening injuries.

The employee, who has not been identified as of yet, was taken into custody. Charges are pending.

Preston identified him as a self-employed game operator from West Palm Beach, who traveled with Worldwide LLC to fairs on numerous occasions with no incident. He also stated the incident does not reflect on Hildebrand Amusements—owner of the Broward County Fair name.

"He did not work for Hildebrand and he won't be working for Worldwide anymore," Preston said.

Meantime, Preston said Worldwide LLC is making a donation to the Women in Distress organization in Margate as a "gesture of compassion" and because "domestic violence related to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to adversely affect American couples," according to a statement released by the press agent for the Fair, Mitchell Pellecchia with the Cassius Group Inc.

D'Oench also spoke with Shena Kitt, the Chief Operating Officer for Women in Distress in Broward.

Kitt said, "We are always so appreciative of any donations we receive from any members of our community but we are especially thankful to Mister Preston for thinking of us after such an unfortunate incident that occurred that could be connected to domestic violence."

"Any form of donations could lead to life-saving services. It could be helping with therapeutic sessions or any other services that can help us do the work that we do."