FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A man was fatally shot Thursday morning by Fort Lauderdale police after he started a large fire in a parking lot, authorities confirmed.
According to authorities, Fort Lauderdale police and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue units responded to the 5300 block of Northwest 33rd Avenue just after 6:30 a.m. after receiving a call about a fire.
Police said officers arrived at the scene and found a large fire and a suspect “throwing incendiary devices.”
Firefighters said mattresses and chairs appeared to be among the items set on fire.
Police said the officers ordered the man multiple times to drop a fire starting devices, but he refused, leading two officers to fire their weapons, killing the man.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
FLFR extinguished the fire and there does not appear to be any damage to nearby buildings.
Sky 10 was above the scene after the fatal shooting as a shopping cart was next to the burned items on the ground.
Evidence markers were spotted around the suspect’s body.
While the fire did not cause any damages, but just a block away, there was another fire that did burn portions of a building early Thursday morning.
“The circumstances of that fire is similar to the fire that followed,” Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz said. “Our investigation into these arsons and the subsequent officer-involved shooting remains ongoing and we will investigate all possibilities, including the connection of the fire that preceded this fire.”
The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave as different agencies now investigate the deadly shooting.