James Perdue's Deputy-Involved Shooting in Hollywood Quickly Labeled Suicide by BSO
Categories: Crime
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| The intersection of A1A and Evans St, near where James Purdue was shot by BSO deputies |
James Perdue was 42 years old, and his last known address was at 4630 Johnson Street in Hollywood. He was shot by deputies after 4 p.m. Sunday at A1A and Evans Street in Hollywood. Shots were reportedly fired by Sgt. Tom McPartland and Dep. Ray Herrera, who were placed on administrative leave after the shooting according to BSO policy.
"This is a person who was suicidal, he wanted to kill himself and he
decided to have a deputy do it," BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella told NBC Miami early this morning, before Perdue's identity was released. A BSO press release begins,
An agitated, suicidal man prompted Broward Sheriff's Office deputies to fire shots at him Sunday on State Road A1A in Hollywood as nearby beach-goers enjoyed the sunny afternoon. The man died at the scene, and A1A remained closed for hours as BSO investigated.
Shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday, a caller phoned BSO's Communications Center to report that there was a suicidal, armed man in the Winn Dixie parking lot at 308 E. Dania Beach Blvd. in Dania Beach. The caller said the man had threatened "to kill a cop." Deputies responded to the location, but the man had already left. They found him a few minutes later in a parking lot near the Dania Beach Pier. Deputies attempted to talk him into surrendering peacefully, but he refused.
A short vehicular chase ensued, and ended him telling the deputies that they were going to have to shoot him. McPartland and Herrera said they saw Perdue reaching behind his back for what may have been a weapon, and they opened fire.
While this shows the signs of a classic "suicide by cop," as such instances are known, BSO has not released any information about Perdue's mental health that would reveal suicidal tendencies. Because an investigation is underway, further information about Perdue's communications to the deputies is not yet available. "Investigators are not releasing specific details because they still have statements to take," said a BSO representative.
Update 12:30 p.m.: Perdue was also facing charges of probation violation relating to a drug-possession case from July 2009. Sunrise police found Perdue with unprescribed Alprazolam (Xanax), used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks, and Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant.
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