A tragic incident unfolded in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday morning when police fatally shot a 21-year-old man named Jaylen Moore after he reportedly held a family member at gunpoint. It all began with a 911 call from Moore’s grandfather, who initially asked for an ambulance because Jaylen was having a mental health crisis. But things quickly took a turn when the grandfather discovered Jaylen had a gun in the house.
“I didn’t know the boy had a pistol,” the grandfather said during a second 911 call, which was later released by the police. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he asked for police to respond.
When officers arrived at the home on the 300 block of Southwest 25th Avenue around 10:45 a.m., Moore stepped outside holding a family member at gunpoint, according to Detective Ali Adamson, a spokesperson for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Officers tried to handle the situation, but things escalated. “The male continued to endanger those around him, including the officers,” Adamson said. In the end, three officers fired their weapons.
Jaylen Moore was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center by paramedics from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, but he didn’t survive.
The situation was tense from the start. When the grandfather first called 911, he told the operator he only wanted paramedics because he was worried police might make things worse. However, after discovering Jaylen had a gun, he called 911 again to request police. Meanwhile, paramedics who arrived at the scene saw that Moore was armed and decided to wait for law enforcement to intervene.
Another 911 call came from a woman in a nearby home, who said her sister and her 6-month-old baby were inside the house with Moore. She confirmed that Moore was armed. Police have not clarified the exact relationship between Moore and the woman or the baby.
As with all cases involving police shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is now investigating what happened. The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, following standard procedure, while the department conducts an internal review.
This heartbreaking event is a reminder of how quickly a situation can spiral, leaving families and communities grappling with the aftermath.
