A man was shot and killed Monday after an encounter with Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and a Plantation police officer in Davie, according to investigators.
The shooting happened near the McDonald’s at Stirling Road and the Davie Road Extension after deputies attempted to arrest the suspect, who authorities said was armed and fled from deputies.
That suspect has since been identified as Napolian Marquez Powell, 27, of Lauderhill.
Records show Powell has an extensive criminal history that includes drug charges, along with charges of grand theft and resisting arrest.
Witnesses described hearing a rapid barrage of gunfire during the confrontation.
“They keep telling him to put his hands up – ‘Let me see your hands,’” witness Gregory Jackson said. “I guess the guy didn’t reply. Next thing I know, I hear almost 30 shots coming from the guns. I dropped my phone and ran.”
Jackson said he scrambled for cover as the shooting unfolded.
“Once I heard those gunshots, man, I went for cover,” he said. “I went to take cover up under my car, got skinned up in the process.”
On Tuesday, investigators returned to the scene, focusing their attention on the bushes and the fast food restaurant’s drive-thru as they searched for additional evidence.
“It was a crazy, horrific sight that I seen yesterday,” Jackson said. “I’ve never seen nothing like it.”
According to Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony, deputies initially encountered Powell in the parking lot of a Wawa across the street while attempting to serve an active arrest warrant. He said the suspect ran from deputies while holding a gun.
Deputies pursued the man for roughly 100 feet before tackling him in an effort to take him into custody, Tony said.
According to the sheriff, Powell was wanted for fleeing and eluding police and detectives believed DNA evidence may connect him to other crimes. He did not provide details about those investigations.
The sheriff also said investigators had intelligence indicating Powell previously told others that if law enforcement attempted to arrest him, he intended to force a “suicide by police” confrontation.
It’s unclear whether the suspect fired his own gun during the confrontation.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.
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